ALSOBYMARVINW.MEYER

The“MithrasLiturgy”
(editorandtranslator)

TheLetterofPetertoPhilip

WhoDoPeopleSayIAm?

FIRSTVINTAGEBOOKSEDITION,June1986

Copyright©1984byMarvinW.Meyer

AllrightsreservedunderInternationalandPan-AmericanCopyrightConventions.PublishedintheUnitedStatesbyRandom

House,Inc.,NewYork,andsimultaneouslyinCanadabyRandomHouseofCanadaLimited,Toronto.Originallypublished,

inhardcover,byRandomHouse,Inc.in1984.

LibraryofCongressCataloging-in-PublicationData

NagHammadicodices.English.Selections.

ThesecretteachingsofJesus.

Reprint.Originallypublishedinhardcoverby

RandomHouse,Inc.in1984.

1.Gnosticism.2.JesusChrist—Teachings.I.Meyer,

MarvinW.II.Title.

BT1390.N332131986229′.805285-40864

eISBN:978-0-307-75664-0

v3.1

ToStephenandJonathan

GospelofThomassaying2

Acknowledgments

I would like to express my appreciation to several people who have assisted in the

preparationofthisbook.TheInstituteforAntiquityandChristianityofClaremontGraduate

School,andtheInstitute’sdirector,JamesM.Robinson,providedasupportivecontextformy

study of the Nag Hammadi texts translated and interpreted here. The availability of the

photographic and bibliographical resources in the Institute’s Nag Hammadi archive greatly

aided my translational work. I have discussed portions of the translations—commonly the

most difficult and perplexing passages—with students and colleagues, especially in the

ClaremontCoptictextsseminar,andtothesefriendsIextendmythanks.ElaineH.Pagels,

JamesM.Robinson,andRichardSmithhaveseentheentiretyofthemanuscriptinanearlier

draft,andtheircommentshaveprovedparticularlyuseful.

IalsowishtoacknowledgethepainstakingeditorialworkofBeverlyHavilandandLaura

SchultzatRandomHouse,andtheskillfulword-processingofDeborahDeGolyer.

Finally,Ioffermymostprofoundexpressionofgratitudetomywifeandchildren,whose

loving encouragement and patience have been indispensable for the completion of this

project.

MarvinW.Meyer

FerrumCollege,Virginia

Contents

Cover

OtherBooksbyThisAuthor

TitlePage

Copyright

Dedication

Epigraph

Acknowledgments

Introduction

TheSecretBookofJames

TheGospelofThomas

TheBookofThomas

TheSecretBookofJohn

Notes

Bibliography

AbouttheTranslator

Introduction

In December 1945, two Egyptian fellahin were riding their camels, searching for natural

fertilizeralongthebaseofthemagnificentcliffsthatgracetheNileRiverasitflowsaround

the great river bend in Upper Egypt. As one of these farmers, Muhammad Ali al-Samman

MuhammadKhalifah,tellsthestory,theyhobbledtheircamelsandbegantodignearalarge

boulder that lies at the foot of an exceptionally impressive cliff called the Jabal al-Tarif.

Suddenlytheystrucksomethinghard.Theydugfartherandunearthedasealedstoragejar

thathadlainthereinthesandofEgyptforhundredsofyears.AtfirstMuhammadAlifeared

toopenthejar,lesthereleaseajinn,orspirit,imprisonedinside.Thenhewonderedwhether

thejarmightnotcontaingold,justasothercontainersdiscoveredafewkilometersupstream

attheValleyoftheKingshadyieldedgoldandtreasures.Hisloveofgoldovercamehisfear

ofjinns,andhedidbreakopenthejar.AccordingtoMuhammadAli,indeedtherewasgold

inside:itflewoutofthejarandascendedtothesky,leavingonlyacollectionofoldpapyrus

booksforhimtothrowontohiscamelandtakehome.

ThegoldthatMuhammadAlisawwasprobablytinypapyrusfragments.Bitsofpapyrus,

goldenincolorandglisteninginthesun,couldeasilybemistakenforflecksofgoldbyone

whohopedtofindtreasure.Asdisappointedashemighthavebeenthatday,MuhammadAli

foundarealtreasure,morevaluable,perhaps,thanajarfullofgold:acollectionofancient

manuscripts, now called the Nag Hammadi library. This manuscript discovery consists of

thirteen codices, or books, containing some fifty-two texts, the majority of which were

previouslyunknown.Mostofthetextsreflectamystical,esotericreligiousmovementthatwe

termGnosticism,fromtheGreekwordgnosis,“knowledge.”Thesetextsarealso,withafew

exceptions, Christian documents, and thus they provide us with valuable new information

aboutthecharacteroftheearlychurch,andtheGnosticChristianswithinthechurch,during

itsfirst,formativecenturies.

The Nag Hammadi manuscripts are giving us an increasingly clear perception of the

Gnostic movement. Gnostics emphasized the quest for understanding, but not a common,

mundaneunderstanding;theysearchedforahigherknowledge,amoreprofoundinsightinto

the deep and secret things of God. Like other mystics, Gnostics admitted that this saving

knowledgecannotbeacquiredthroughthememorizationofphrasesorthestudyofbooks;

nevertheless,likeothermystics,theycomposednumerousdocumentsexplainingthenatureof

spiritualgnosis.SuchGnostictextsproclaimacompletelygoodandtranscendentGod,whose

enlightened greatness is utterly unfathomable and essentially indescribable. Yet this divine

Othercanbeexperiencedinaperson’sinnerlife,forthespiritwithinisactuallythedivine

self,theinnersparkorrayofheavenlylight.Thetragedyofhumanexistence,however,is

thatmostpeoplefailtorealizethefulfillmentofthedivinelife,becauseoftheharshworld

thatfunctionsasthestageforthehumandrama.TheGnosticsunderstoodthismortalworld,

withallitsevilsanddistractions,tobeadeadlytrapforonewhoseeksknowledge.Moreover,

thedivinespiritisimprisonedbythepassionsofthesensualsoulandtheelementsofthe

fleshlybody.Gnostictextsemployvariousfiguresofspeechtodepictthesorryfateofthe

entrappedspirit:itisasleep,drunk,sick,ignorant,andindarkness.Inordertobeliberated,

then,thespiritneedstobeawakenedandbroughttosobriety,wholeness,knowledge,and

enlightenment. This transformation in one’s life, Gnostics maintained, is accomplished

throughacallfromGod—theGodwithoutandwithin—todiscovertrueknowledgeandrest.

ForGnosticChristians,thesourceofthedivinecallisChrist.

We can see why many Gnostics were considered dissidents in the ancient world. They

calledintoquestionthevaluesof“civilized”societyandinsteadfosteredspiritualvaluesand

lifestyles.SomeradicalGnosticsapparentlyretreatedfromtheworldtothesolitarylifeofthe

monkortheascetic,andrefusedtoparticipateintheeverydaybusinessofhumansociety.

OtherequallyradicalGnosticsseemtohaveflauntedtheirdisdainforconventionalhuman

valuesbydisregardingtheamenitiesofpolitesocietyandpracticingalibertinewayoflife.

Most Gnostics, however, probably led normal lives in society, while engaging in an inner,

spiritualquestforGod.Withinthechurch,too,Gnosticbelieversoftenadvocatedafaithand

lifequitedifferentfromwhatchurchleaderswerepromoting.GnosticChristianschallenged

theauthorityofthepriestsandbishopsandsuggestedthataspiritual,Gnosticlifedevotedto

a spiritual, Gnostic Christ allowed them to approach and embrace God directly. For their

stance Gnostic Christians were eventually condemned as heretics in the debates about

orthodoxy and heresy that raged within the early church, and most of their books were

suppressedordestroyedbytheirtriumphantopponents.

Consequently, before the discovery of the Nag Hammadi manuscripts, we possessed

relativelyfewreliablesourcesofinformationontheGnostics.Muchofourinformationcame

from the hostile writings of the philosophers and theologians who tried to silence the

Gnostics.NowtheNagHammaditextsfinallyallowtheGnosticstospeakforthemselvesand

presenttheirfaithandtheologyinafairandattractivemanner.

FourofthemostspectaculardocumentsfromtheNagHammadilibraryarepublishedin

thepresentvolume:theSecretBookofJames,theGospelofThomas,theBookofThomas,and

theSecretBookofJohn.Ofthefour,two(theGospelofThomasandtheSecretBookofJohn)

are classics of Gnostic spirituality, known also from other manuscripts or fragments of

manuscripts.Allfouroftheworksaredescribed,inthetitleortheopeningofthetext,as

secret teachings of the Savior, and reliable followers of Jesus (his brother James; Judas

Thomas, regarded by some sources as Jesus’ twin brother; or the spiritual disciple, John)

serveasguarantorsofthesecrettraditions.Althoughtheprecisedatingofancientdocuments

isnotoriouslydifficult,allfourofthesetextsseemtohavebeenwrittenaroundthesecond

century

C.E.

,theSecretBookofJamesandtheGospelofThomasprobablybeingearlierthanthe

BookofThomasandtheSecretBookofJohn.Allfourpreserveoldermaterials,andsomeofthe

recordedsayingsoftheSaviormaygobacktothehistoricalJesus.

TheSecretBookofJames,theGospelofThomas,andtheBookofThomasconsistofmaterial

thatwascollectedandeditedasapartoftheearlychurch’sprocessofworkingandreworking

sayingsofJesus.WecanseethisprocessalreadyintheNewTestamentgospels.Matthewand

LukemostlikelycomposedtheirgospelsaboutfifteentotwentyyearsafterMarkandusedas

their sources not only the Gospel of Mark but also a collection of Jesus’ sayings. Usually

referredtosimplyasQ(fromQuelle,Germanfor“source”),thiscollectionofsayingsdoesnot

exist independently as a text, but it may be reconstructed by means of a careful study of

MatthewandLuke.Whenthisisdone,itbecomesclearthatQwasnotanarrativegospellike

MarkbutratheraseriesofsayingsofJesusstrungtogetherwithlittleornonarrative.

If Q presented Jesus as a proclaimer of wise sayings, then the Gospel of Thomas is a

document similar to Q in form and style. Like Q, the Gospel of Thomas is a substantial

collectionofJesus’sayings,withonesayingimmediatelyfollowinganother.Inthemajority

ofcasestheonlyintroductiontoasayingisthestylizedquotationformula“Jesussaid.”Yet,

whileitcloselyresemblesQ,theGospelofThomashasbeeneditedandrevisedbyChristians

withgnosticizinginterests.Itisexplicitlyacollectionofsecretsayingscommunicatingsecret

wisdom,andtheproperinterpretationofthesesayingsissaidtounlockthemysteryoflife

anddeath(seesaying1).TheGospelofThomasthusincludesnotonlymanysayingsthatcall

to mind New Testament teachings attributed to Jesus, but also others that illustrate more

specificallyGnosticthemes(seesayings22,50,75,113).

Already in the Gospel of Thomas (for example, sayings 12, 13, 22, 61, 72, 73, 77) some

limitednarrativeframeworkisaddedtoafewofthesayings,andlittledialoguesbetween

Jesusandhisfollowersareconstructed.ThistendencybecomesmoreexplicitintheSecret

BookofJamesandtheBookofThomas.Inthesetexts,sayingsofJesusarepresentedwithin

more expansive discourses of Jesus (reminiscent of those in the Gospel of John), and the

discourses themselves are interrupted by statements and queries of James, Peter, or Judas

Thomas. The Secret Book of James emphasizes the place of James the Just, the brother of

JesusandheroofearlyJewishChristians,andhasJamesusurpthedominantrolereserved

forPeterinNewTestamenttraditions(seesuchpassagesas1:2;3:1–2,12;5:1).TheGospelof

ThomasclaimstotranscendbothJewish-Christianpiety(sayings6,14,27,53,102)andthe

Jewish-Christian hero James (saying 12): Judas Thomas, intoxicated with spiritual

knowledge,isexaltedabovePeterand,byimplication,James(saying13).Anditisthesame

Judas Thomas who also figures prominently in the Book of Thomas, an austere, world-

renouncingtextthatmakesuseofsayingsofJesusalongwithmotifsderivedfromtheGreek

Platonicheritage.

In these three texts Jesus’ sayings are presented, interpreted, and revised within new

contextsandnewhistoricalsituations.Ofcoursetheinterpretationsandrevisionsshowthe

perspectivesofthesecond-centuryauthorsoftheseChristiantexts,astheauthorsproclaim

and update the Jesus tradition for a new day. At the same time, some of these sayings of

Jesusmustbemucholderthanthesecond-centurytexts,andquiteafewmayreflectactual

sayingsofJesusofNazareth.Thereisnogoodreasontosupposethatauthenticsayingsof

JesusaretobefoundonlyintheNewTestament.Theymightalsobefoundintextslikethe

SecretBookofJames,theGospelofThomas,andtheBookofThomas.

Inthepresentdocumentsseveralsortsofsayingsareespeciallylikelytoqualifyassayings

ofthehistoricalJesus.Theseincludekingdomsayings,proverbialutterances,andparables,

all of which are characteristic of the teachings of Jesus as we know them from the New

Testament.Forexample,severalparablesthatappearforthefirsttimeonthepagesofthese

NagHammadidocumentsmayverywellcomefromJesushimself:theParableofthePalm

Shoot(SecretBookofJames4:10–12),theParableoftheHeadofGrain(SecretBookofJames

8:2), the Parable of the Wise Fisher (Gospel of Thomas 8), the Parable of the Jar of Flour

(GospelofThomas95),theParableoftheAssassin(GospelofThomas96),andatleastcertain

featuresoftheParableoftheGrapevineandtheWeeds(BookofThomas8:2–6).Othersayings

ofJesuspreservedintheNagHammaditextsmayprovideuswithearlierversionsthanthe

ones in the New Testament. Thus, the Parable of the Sower as presented in the Gospel of

Thomas(saying9)includesastoryteller’sdetailnotfoundintheNewTestamentversions(the

sower“tookahandfulofseeds”),butomitsthelaterallegoricalinterpretationusedbythe

church and found in each of the New Testament versions. We may infer, thanks to the

discoveryoftheGospelofThomas,thattheParableoftheSowerexistsinanearlierformthan

thatoftheNewTestamentgospels.

Thefourthandfinaltexttranslatedinthisvolume,theSecretBookofJohn,alsoconsistsof

disclosuresanddiscoursesofJesussetwithintheframeworkofadialoguebetweenJesusand

a disciple. The content of this text differs substantially from that of the other three

documents,however,andtheSecretBookofJohncontainsverylittle,ifanything,thatcanbe

consideredascomingfromthehistoricalJesus.Rather,thistextisanovertlymythological

accountofthecreation,fall,andsalvationoftheworldandthepeoplewithintheworld.In

itspresentformtheaccountseemstobeaChristianizedversionofanearlierJewishtextthat

addressedtheproblemofevilandvindicatedthegoodnessofGodbyexegetingGenesisand

otherportionsoftheHebrewBibleinaninnovativeandoftenshockingfashion.Theobvious

contrastbetweenanabsolutelyexcellentandall-transcendentOneandanabsurdandfallen

worldisexplainedthroughanintricatemythologicalaccountofaGodwhoemanates,creates,

falls,andfinallyissaved.Astheplotunfolds,insightsfromGenesisarecombinedwithGreek

philosophicalandmythologicalconceptstoproducearichlysyncretisticstory.Onewayto

readthestoryisasanaccountoftheevolutionofthedivineSpirit,orMind.TheSpiritofall

extends itself through a Thought (here in Coptic, from the Greek, Ennoia), a Forethought

(Pronoia),untilitachievesanenlightenedspiritualFullness(Pleroma).Unfortunately,alossof

Wisdom (Sophia) brings about a kind of Mindlessness (Aponoia), so that the restoration of

Wisdom to wholeness of Mind can be accomplished only by means of divine Afterthought

(Epinoia).Thus,Godsavesandissaved,andalongwithGod,allofthosewhoparticipatein

lightandspirit.

****

TheprincipalgoalofthisbookistoprovideanewEnglishtranslationofthesefourCoptic

(orlateEgyptian)textsfromtheNagHammadilibrary.Ihaveattemptedtoproducealively

translation that makes these texts accessible to the general reader. While the use of Nag

Hammadi codex and page numbers should make it simpler to consult the original

manuscripts,Ihavealsodividedthetextsintochaptersandverses.InthecaseoftheGospelof

ThomasIhavedividedthetextintosayings,butIdepartfromthestandardnumerationupon

twooccasions:onceIcombinesayingsusuallydivided(73),andonceIdividesayingsusually

combined(109–110).ForeaseofreadingIhaveavoidedusingbracketstoindicatetextual

reconstructions and restorations, but instead have sought to draw reasonable conclusions

aboutthecertaintyofatranslationorarestoration.InmynotesImentionrestorationsthat

areparticularlyconjectural.TheseriousscholarisreferredtothecriticaleditionsoftheNag

Hammadicodicesforafullerdiscussionofthetextualdifficulties.

Mytranslationisputintolanguagethatismeanttobeinclusive.Ihavetriedtobefairto

thespiritofthetextswhileusing,wherepossible,non-sexisttermsandphrases.Thus,Iuse

thephrase“ChildofHumanity”ratherthanthefamiliarphrase“SonofMan,”and“child”or

“children”ratherthan“son”or“sons”;“person,”“human(being),”or“humanity”ratherthan

“man,” unless the Coptic indicates a specifically male person; and “self” for the indefinite

reflexive“himself”(so:“onewhoknowsself”ratherthan“onewhoknowshimself”).Onthe

otherhand,Ihaveordinarilyretainedtheterms“father”and“mother,”sincesuchcategories

reflectthesocialworldofthetextsandthefamilialrelationshipsamongthedivinecharacters

(forexample,thedivinetriadofFather,Mother,andChild).SinceCopticlackstheneuter

gender,oftenemploysthemasculinetorefertowhatisindefiniteorneutral,andcanalsouse

amasculinepronounwhentheantecedentisamasculineepithetforafemininecharacter,an

exactunderstandingofafewphrasesandsectionsintheCoptictextsisdifficulttoachieve

(seeSecretBookofJohn8:13andthenotedescribingonesuchinstance).

Any translation is an interpretation, and so it is here. My translation builds upon the

interpretiveresearchofmanyofmycolleagues,andIhappilyacknowledgemyindebtedness

tothem.Thebibliographyhighlightsafewofthebooksandarticlesthatprovedhelpfulto

me.Ihopethatthepresenttranslationandinterpretationwillhelpthereaderstudyandenjoy

fourreligioustextsthatareamongthemoreexcitingandsignificantofdocumentsfromthe

ancientMediterraneanworld.

Chapter1

1

James,writingto…

PeacebewithyoufromPeace!

LovefromLove!

GracefromGrace!

FaithfromFaith!

LifefromholyLife!

2

SinceyouhaveaskedmetosendyouasecretbookrevealedtomeandPeterbythe

Lord,Icouldnotturnyoudownorrefuseyou.SoIhavewrittenitin

3

Hebrew,andsentittoyouandonlyyou.But,consideringthatyouareaministerforthe

salvationofthesaints,trytobecarefulnottocommunicatethisbooktomanypeople,for

theSaviordidnotevenwanttocommunicateittoallofus,histwelvedis-

4

ciplesNonetheless,blessedarethosewhowillbesavedthroughthefaithofthistreatise.

5

TenmonthsagoIsentyouanothersecretbookthattheSaviorrevealedtome.Thinkof

thatbook

6

asarevelationtome,James.Asforthisone,…

7

Thetwelvediscipleswereallsittingtogether,recollectingwhattheSaviorhadsaidto

eachofthem,secretlyoropenly,andorganizingtheirrecollectionsintobooks.I,formy

part,wasalsowritingmybook.

8

Behold,theSaviorappeared.Hehadleftus,andwehadbeenwatchingforhim.

9

Fivehundredfiftydaysafterhearosefromthedead,wesaidtohim,“Didyoudepart

andleaveus?”

10

Jesussaid,“No,butIshallreturntotheplacefromwhichIcame.Ifyouwishtocome

withme,come!”

11

Theyallansweredandsaid,“Ifyoucommandus,weshallcome.”

12

Hesaid,“Itellyouthetruth:nooneamongyouwilleverenterthekingdomofheaven

becauseIcommandedit,butratherbecauseyouyourselvesare

13

filled.LeaveJamesandPeterwithme,thatImayfillthem.”

14

Afterhesummonedthetwoofthem,hetookthemaside,andorderedtheothersto

keepattheirwork.

Chapter2

1

TheSaviorsaid,“Youhavebeentreatedkindly.…

2

…havenotunderstood—

doyounotwanttobefilled?

3

Yourheartsaredrunk—

doyounotwanttobesober?

Forshame!

4

“Fromnowon,whileawakeorasleep,remember:

youhaveseen,

youhavespokenwith,

andyouhavelistenedtotheChildofHumanity.

5

WoetothosewhohaveseentheChildofHumanity!

6

Blessedarethosewhohavenotseen,

whohavenotassociatedwith,

whohavenotspokenwith,

andwhohavenotlistenedtoanythingfromthisHumanBeing:

lifeisyours!

7

“Understandthis:theChildofHumanityhealedyouwhenyouweresick,thatyou

mightreign.

8

Woetothosewhohavefoundrestfromtheirsicknesses,fortheywillbesickagain!

9

Blessedarethosewhohaveneverbeensick,buthaveknownofrestbeforegetting

sick:thekingdomofGodisyours!

10

“ForthisreasonItellyou:befilled,andlettherebenoemptyspacewithinyou,for

otherwisetheonewhoistocomecanlaughatyou.”

11

ThenPeteranswered,“Behold,threetimesyouhavetoldustobefilled,butweare

alreadyfilled.”

12

TheSavioransweredandsaid,“Ihavetoldyoutobefilledsothatyoumaynotlack

anything,sincethosewhoarelackingwillnotbesaved.Thus,tobe

13

filledisgoodandtolackisbad.Yet,

itisalsogoodforyoutobelacking,

butbadforyoutobefilled.

14

Forthosewhoarefilledarealsolacking,

andonepersonwhoislackingisnot

filledinthesamewayasanother.

Theonewhoisfilled,though,becomes

sufficientlyperfect.

15

Hence,youshouldbelackingwhenyoucanbefilled,

andfilledwhenyoucanbelacking,

becausethenyoucanbefilledevenmore.

16

Sobefilledwithspiritbutlackinginhumanreason,

forhumanreasonisonlyhumanreason,

andthesoul,too,isonlysoul.”

Chapter3

1

Iansweredandsaidtohim,“Lord,wecanobeyyouifyouwish,forwehaveleftour

fathers,our

2

mothers,andourtowns,andhavefollowedyou.Butgiveusthemeanstoavoidthe

temptationofthewickeddevil.”

3

TheLordansweredandsaid,“WhatisyourrewardifyoudotheFather’swill,butdo

notreceivewhattheFathergivestothosetemptedbySatan?

4

ButifyouareafflictedandpersecutedbySatan,anddotheFather’swill,Isaythis:

5

theFatherwillloveyou,

andmakeyoumyequal,

andthinkofyouashavingbecomelovedones,

throughtheFather’sforethought,

byyourfreechoice.

6

“Willyounotforsaketheloveoffleshandthefearofsuffering?Doyounotknow?

7

Youhavenotyetbeeninsulted,

youhavenotyetbeenaccusedfalsely,

youhavenotyetbeenthrownintoprison,

youhavenotyetbeencondemnedunjustly,

youhavenotyetbeencrucifiedwithoutreason,

andyouhavenotyetbeenburiedintheground,

asIwasbytheevilone.

8

Doyoudaresparetheflesh,youwhohavethespiritaroundyoulikeawall?

9

Considerhowlongtheworldhasexistedbeforeyou,

andhowlongitwilllastafteryou.

Thenyouwilldiscoverthatyourlifelastsbutasingleday,

andyoursufferingbutasinglehour.

10

Forwhatistrulygoodwillneverbeapartofthisworld.

11

Sodisdaindeath,

butcareaboutlife.

Remembermycrossandmydeath,

andyouwilllive.”

12

Iansweredandsaidtohim,“Lord,donotspeakofyourcrossanddeathtous,forthey

arefarfromyou.

13

TheLordansweredandsaid,“Itellyouthetruth:noonewillbesavedwhodoesnot

believeinmycross,forthekingdomofGodbelongstothosewho

14

believeinmycross.Soseekafterdeathasthedeadseekafterlife,forwhatthedeadseek

becomesplaintothem.Thenwhatconcerncouldtheyhave?

15

Whenyou,likewise,inquireafterdeath,itwillteachyouaboutelection.

16

“Itellyouthetruth:noonewillbesavedamongthosewhofeardeath.Forthekingdom

ofdeathbelongstothosewhoputthemselvestodeath.

17

Besuperiortome!

BelikethechildoftheholySpirit!”

Chapter4

1

ThenIasked,“Lord,howcanweprophesytothosewhoaskustoprophesytothem?

Formanypeopleaskus,andexpecttohearasermonfromus.”

2

TheLordansweredandsaid,“Doyounotknowthattheheadofprophecywasremoved

withJohn?”

3

Isaid,“Lord,isitindeedpossibletotakeawaytheheadofprophecy?”

4

TheLordsaidtome,“Whenyourealizewhattheheadis,andthatprophecycomes

fromthehead,thenunderstandwhatthismeans:itsheadwastakenaway.

5

“AtfirstIspokewithyouinparables,butyoudidnotunderstand.NowIamspeaking

withyouplainly,

6

andyoustilldonotperceive.Nevertheless,youservedasaparablewhenIspokein

parables,andasamanifestationwhenIspokeplainly.

7

“Doyourbesttobesavedwithoutanyurging.

8

Rather,spuryourselveson,andreachthegoalbeforemeifyoucan.ThentheFatherwill

loveyou.

9

“Hatehypocrisyandwickedthought.Forsuchthoughtproduceshypocrisy,and

hypocrisyisfarfromtruth.

10

“Donotletthekingdomofheavenwasteaway.Foritislikeapalmshootthatdropped

itsdatesallaround.Itproducedbuds,andaftertheyhadgrown,

11

thestalkdriedup.Thisiswhathappenedwiththefruitthatcamefromthissingleroot.

Afteritwasharvested,moredateswereproducedbymanynew

12

shoots.Itcertainlywouldbegoodifthisnewgrowthcouldbeproducednow,sothatyou

mightfindthekingdom.

13

“Iwasglorifiedlikethisoncebefore.Why,then,

14

doyouholdmebackwhenIameagertoleave?Aftermysufferingyoumademestaywith

youanother

15

eighteendaysbecauseoftheparables.Forsomepeopleitwasenoughtolistentomy

teachingandtounderstandtheseparables:

theShepherds,

theSeed,

theBuilding,

theLampsoftheYoungWomen,

theWagesoftheWorkers,

theCoins,

andtheWoman.

16

“Beenthusiasticabouttheword.For

thefirstaspectofthewordisfaith,

thesecondislove,

thethirdisgoodworks,

andfromthesecomeslife.

17

“Forthewordislikeagrainofwheat.Afterplantingit,thefarmerhadfaithinit.When

itsprouted,helovedit,fornowhesawmanygrainsinsteadof

18

onlyone.Andafterdoingthework,hewassaved:hepreparedthegrainasfood,andkept

someouttoplantagain.

19

“Thisisalsohowyoucanacquirethekingdomofheaven.Ifyoudonotacquireit

throughknowledge,youwillnotbeabletofindit.

Chapter5

1

“ForthisreasonItellyou:livesoberly!Donotbeledastray!Ihaveoftentoldyouall

together,andI

2

havealsotoldyoualone,James:besaved!Ihaveorderedyoutofollowme,andIhave

taughtyouhowtoactbeforetherulers.

3

“Takenote:

Icamedown,

Ispoke,

Iwasafflicted,

andIgainedmycrownwhenIsavedyou.

4

ForIcamedowntodwellwithyou,thatyoualsomightdwellwithme.ButwhenIfound

yourhousestobewithoutroofs,IdwelledinotherhousesthatcouldreceivemewhenI

camedown.

5

“Sotrustinme,myfriends.Understandwhatthe

6

greatlightis.TheFatherdoesnotneedme,forafatherdoesnotneedachild.Rather,a

childneeds

7

afather.TohimIamgoing,fortheFatheroftheChilddoesnotneedyou.

8

“Listentotheword,understandknowledge,andlovelife.Thennoonewillpersecute

youandnoonewilloppressyou,unlessyoudothistoyourselves.

Chapter6

1

“Youmiserablepeople!Youunfortunateones!Youpretenderstotruth!Youfalsifiersof

knowledge!You

2

sinnersagainstthespirit!Whydoyoucontinuetolistenwhenfromthebeginningyou

shouldhave

3

beenspeaking?Whydoyousleepwhenfromthebeginningyoushouldhavebeenawake,

thatthe

4

kingdomofheavenmightreceiveyou?Itellyouthetruth:itiseasierforaholypersonto

sinkintofilth,andforanenlightenedpersontosinkintodarkness,thanforyoutoreign.

Isthatnottrue?

5

“Irecallyourweeping,yourmourning,andyour

6

grief:theyarefarbehindus.Sonow,youwholiveoutsidetheFather’sinheritance,

weepwhenyoushould,

andmourn,

andpreachwhatisgood,

sincetheChildisascending,asisproper.

7

“Itellyouthetruth:ifIhadbeensenttopeoplewhowouldlistentome,andhad

spokenwiththem,Iwouldneverhavecomedowntotheearth.Yououghttobeashamed!

8

“Behold,Ishallbeleavingyou.Ishallgo,andIdonotwanttostaywithyouany

longer,justasyoudonotwantthis.Hurry,then,andfollowme!

9

“ForthisreasonItellyou:

Icamedownbecauseofyou.

Youarelovedones.

Youwillbringlifetomanypeople.

10

CallupontheFather,praytoGodfrequently,andGodwillgiveuntoyou.

11

BlessedisonewhohasseenyouwithGod,

whenGodisproclaimedamongthe

angelsandglorifiedamongthesaints:

lifeisyours!

12

Behappy,andrejoiceaschildrenofGod.ObserveGod’swill,thatyoumaybesaved.

Acceptcorrection

13

fromme,andsaveyourselves.IammediatingforyouwiththeFather,andtheFatherwill

forgiveyoumanythings.”

Chapter7

1

Whenweheardthesecomments,weweredelighted,forwehadbecomegloomy

becauseofwhat

2

wedescribedearlier.ButwhentheLordsawthatwewerehappy,hesaid,

“Woetoyouwhoarewithoutahelper!

Woetoyouwhoneedgrace!

3

Blessedarethosewhohavegrownconfident

andhavefoundgraceforthemselves!

4

“Compareyourselveswithstrangers.Howaretheyviewedinyourcity?Whyareyou

anxioustobanish

5

yourselves,andlivefarfromyourcity?Whyvacateyourdwelling,andprepareitfor

thosewhowanttoliveinit?Youexilesandrunaways!

6

Woetoyou,foryouwillbecaptured!

7

“Whatdoyouthink?

ThattheFatherisaloverofhumanity?

Thatheisinfluencedbyprayers?

Thatheisgracioustoonepersonbecauseofanother?

Orthathetoleratesanyonewhoisseeking?

8

“FortheFatherknowsaboutdesire,andwhatthefleshneeds:thefleshdoesnotlong

forthesoul.

9

Forthebodyneversinsapartfromthesoul,

andthesoulisneversavedapartfromthespirit.

10

Butifthesoulissavedfromevil,

andthespirittooissaved,

thenthebodybecomessinless.

11

Forthespiritanimatesthesoul,

butthebodykillsthesoul.

Inotherwords,thesoulkillsitself.

12

“Itellyouthetruth:theFathercertainlywillnotforgivethesinofthesoulortheguilt

oftheflesh.

13

Fornoonewhohaswornthefleshwillbesaved.Doyouthinkthatmanyhavefoundthe

kingdomofheaven?

14

Blessedisonewhoenvisionsselfasthefourthoneinheaven!”

Chapter8

1

Whenweheardtheseremarks,weweresad.ButwhentheLordsawthatweweresad,

hesaid,“ForthisreasonItellyouthis,thatyoumayknowyourselves.

2

“Forthekingdomofheavenislikeaheadofgraingrowinginafield.Whenitwasripe,

itscattereditsseeds,andfilledthefieldwithheadsofgrainforanotheryear.

3

“Soalsowithyou:hastentoharvestforyourselvesalivingheadofgrain,thatyoumay

befilledwiththekingdom.

4

“AslongasIamwithyou,listentomeandtrustme.ButwhenIamfarawayfromyou,

remember

5

me.RememberthatIwaswithyouandyoudidnotknowme.

6

Blessedarethosewhohaveknownme!

7

Woetothosewhohaveheardbuthavenotbelieved!

8

Blessedarethosewhohavenotseenbutyethavebelieved!

9

“OnceagainIurgeyou:Iamappearingtoyou

10

andbuildingahousethatisveryusefultoyou.Youcanfindshelterinit,anditwill

remainstandingbesideyourneighbors’housewhentheirhousethreatenstocollapse.

11

“Itellyouthetruth:

WoetothoseforwhomIwassentdown!

12

BlessedarethosewhoaretoascendtotheFather!

13

“AgainIadmonishyou,youwhoexist:belikethosewhodonotexist,thatyoumay

dwellwiththosewhodonotexist.

14

“Donotletthekingdomofheavenbecomeadesertwithinyou.Donotbeproud

becauseofthelightthat

15

bringsenlightenment.Rather,acttowardyourselvesasIalsoactedtowardyou:Iput

myselfunderacurseforyou,thatyoumightbesaved.”

Chapter9

1

Peterrespondedtothesecommentsandsaid,“Lord,sometimesyouurgeusontoward

thekingdomofheaven,butatothertimesyouturnusaway.

2

Sometimesyouencourageus,drawustowardfaith,andpromiseuslife,butatothertimes

youthrowusoutofthekingdomofheaven.”

3

TheLordansweredandsaidtous,“Ihavepresentedyouwithfaithmanytimes.And,

James,Irevealedmyselftoyou,butyoudidnotknowme.

4

NowagainIseethatoftenyouarehappy.Yetalthoughyouaredelightedaboutthe

promiseoflife,youaresadandgloomywhenyouaretaughtaboutthekingdom.

5

“Nevertheless,youhavereceivedlifethroughfaithandknowledge.Soignorewordsof

rejectionwhen

6

youhearthem.Butwhenyouhearaboutthepromise,rejoiceallthemore.

7

“Itellyouthetruth:whoeverreceiveslifeandbelievesinthekingdomwillneverleave

thekingdom,noteveniftheFatherwishestocastsuchapersonout.

8

“ThisisallthatIamgoingtotellyou.NowI

9

shallascendtotheplacefromwhichIcame.WhenIwaseagertogo,youdrovemeout,

andinsteadofescortingme,youpursuedme.

10

“Beattentivetotheglorythatiswaitingforme.Whenyouhaveopenedyourhearts,

listentothe

11

hymnsthatawaitmeinheaven.FortodayImusttakemyplacetotherightofmyFather.

12

“Ihavespokenmylastwordtoyou.Ishallbegone:aspiritualchariothasliftedmeup,

andnowIshallstripsothatImayputonclothes.

13

“Beattentive!

Blessedarethosewhopreachedthegospel

abouttheChildbeforetheChildcame

down:

forwhenIdidcome,

Icouldascendagain.

14

Blessedthreetimesoverarethosewho

wereproclaimedbytheChildbefore

theycameintobeing:

foryoucansharesalvationwiththem.”

Chapter10

1

WhentheLordsaidthis,heleft.We(IandPeter)gotonourkneesandgavethanks,

andsentourhearts

2

uptoheaven.Weheardwithourearsandsawwithoureyes

thenoiseofwars,

atrumpetblast,

andagreatdisturbance.

3

Whenwepassedthatplace,wesentourminds

4

farther.Wesawwithoureyesandheardwithourears

hymns,

angelicpraises,

andangelicrejoicing.

Heavenlymajestiesweresinginghymns,andwerejoiced,too.

5

Againafterthiswewishedtosendourspiritsuptothedivinemajesty.Afterwe

ascended,however,

6

wewerenotallowedtoseeorhearanything.Fortheotherdisciplescalledtousand

askedus,“Whatdidyouhearfromtheteacher?Whatdidhetellyou?Wheredidhego?”

7

Weansweredthem,“Heascended:

hegaveushisrighthand,

andpromisedallofuslife;

heshoweduschildrencomingafterus,

andcommandedustolovethem,

sincewearetobesavedfortheirsakes.”

8

Whenthedisciplesheardthis,theybelievedtherevelation,buttheywereangryabout

thosewho

9

wouldbeborn.Ididnotwanttooffendthem,soI

10

senteachoneofthemtoadifferentlocation.ImyselfwentuptoJerusalemandprayed

thatImightsharesalvationwiththelovedoneswhoaretoappear.

11

Ipraythatthismaybeginwithyou.InthiswayI

12

canbesaved,sincethepeopleofwhomIspeakwillbeenlightenedthroughmebymy

faith,andthroughanotherfaithevenbetterthanmine.ForIwantminetobetheinferior

faith.

13

Try,then,tobelikethesepeople,andpraythatyoumaysharesalvationwiththem.For

theSaviorgaveustherevelationforthesakeofthepeopleI

14

havementioned.Ontheirbehalfwe,inturn,proclaimashareinsalvationwiththem,

thoseforwhomthemessagewasproclaimed,

thosewhomtheLordhasmadehischildren.

Prologue

ThesearethesecretsayingsthatthelivingJesusspokeandJudasThomastheTwinrecorded.

Saying1

Hesaid,“Whoeverfindstheinterpretationofthesesayingswillnottastedeath.”

Saying2

Jesussaid,“Letonewhoseeksnotstopseekinguntilonefinds.

Whenonefinds,onewillbedisturbed.

Whenoneisdisturbed,onewillbeamazed,andwillreignoverall.”

Saying3

Jesussaid,“Ifyourleaderssaytoyou,‘Behold,thekingdomisinthesky,’then

thebirdsintheskywillgettherebeforeyou.Iftheysaytoyou,‘Itisinthesea,’then

thefishwillgettherebefore

“Rather,thekingdomisinsideyouandoutsideyou.Whenyouknowyourselves,

thenyouwillbeknown,andwillunderstandthatyouarechildrenoftheliving

Father.Butifyoudonotknowyourselves,thenyouliveinpoverty,andembody

poverty.”

Saying4

Jesussaid,“Theolderpersonmanydaysoldwillnothesitatetoaskalittlechild

sevendaysoldabouttherealmoflife,andthispersonwilllive.Formanyofthefirst

willbelast,andwillbecomeasingleone.”

Saying5

Jesussaid,“Knowwhatiswithinyoursight,andwhatishiddenfromyouwill

becomecleartoyou.Forthereisnothinghiddenthatwillnotberevealed.”

Saying6

Hisdisciplesaskedhimandsaid,

“Doyouwantustofast?

Howshallwepray?

Shallwegivetocharity?

Whatfoodmayweeat?”

Jesussaid,“Donotlieordowhatyoudislike,sinceallthingsareclearbeforeheaven.

Forthereisnothinghiddenthatwillnotberevealed,andnothingcoveredthatwillnotbe

uncovered.”

Saying7

Jesussaid,

“Blessedisthelionthatthehumaneats,

sothatthelionbecomeshuman.

Cursedisthehumanthatthelioneats,

sothatthelionbecomeshuman.”

Saying8

Hesaid,“Apersonislikeawisefisherwhocastanetintothesea,anddrewitup

fromtheseafulloflittlefish.Amongthemthewisefisherdiscoveredafinebigfish.

Sothefisherthrewallthelittlefishbackintothesea,andwithnohesitationkeptthe

bigfish.Whoeverhasearstohearoughttolisten.”

Saying9

Jesussaid,“Behold,thesowerwentout,tookahandfulofseeds,andscattered

them.Somefellontheroad,andthebirdscameandatethem.Othersfellonrock,

andtheydidnottakerootinthesoilorproduceanyheadsofgrain.Othersfell

amongthorns,andthethornschokedtheseedsandwormsconsumedthem.Still

othersfellongoodsoil,andbroughtforthagoodcrop:ityieldedsixtypermeasure

andonehundredtwentypermeasure.”

Saying10

Jesussaid,“Ihavethrownfireontheworldand,behold,Iamguardingituntilit

isablaze.”

Saying11

Jesussaid,

“Thisheavenwillpassaway,

andtheheavenaboveitwillpassaway.

Thedeadarenotalive,

andthelivingwillnotdie.

Duringthedayswhenyouatewhatisdead,

youmadeitalive.

Whenyoubecomeenlightened,

whatwillyoudo?

Onthedaywhenyouwereone,

youbecametwo.

Butwhenyoubecometwo,

whatwillyoudo?”

Saying12

ThedisciplessaidtoJesus,“Weknowyouwillleaveus.Whoisgoingtobeour

leaderthen?”

Jesussaidtothem,“Nomatterwhereyoureside,youaretogotoJamestheJust,

forwhosesakeheavenandearthcameintobeing.”

Saying13

Jesussaidtohisdisciples,“Comparemewithsomeone,andtellmewhomIam

like.”

SimonPetersaidtohim,“Youarelikeajustangel.”

Matthewsaidtohim,“Youarelikeawisephilosopher.”

Thomassaidtohim,“Teacher,mymouthisutterlyunabletosaywhomyouare

like.”

Jesussaid,“Iamnotyourteacher.Youhavebecomeintoxicatedbecauseyouhave

drunkfromthebubblingspringthatIhavetended.”AndhetookThomasand

withdrew,andtoldhimthreethings.

WhenThomascamebacktohisfriends,theyaskedhim,“WhatdidJesustellyou?”

Thomassaidtothem,“IfItellyouevenoneofthethingshetoldme,youwillpick

uprocksandstoneme.Thenfirewillcomeforthfromtherocksanddevouryou.”

Saying14

Jesussaidtothem,

“Ifyoufast,youwillbringsinuponyourselves.

Ifyoupray,youwillbecondemned.

Ifyougivetocharity,youwillharmyourspirits.

“Whenyougointoanycountryandwanderfromplacetoplace,andthepeoplereceive

you,eatwhattheyserveyouandhealtheirsick.Forwhatgoesintoyourmouthwillnot

contaminateyou;rather,whatcomesoutofyourmouthwillcontaminateyou.”

Saying15

Jesussaid,“Whenyouseeonewhowasnotbornofawoman,bowdownand

worship.ThatisyourFather.”

Saying16

Jesussaid,“PerhapspeoplethinkthatIhavecometobringpeacetotheworld.

TheydonotknowthatIhavecometobringconflicttotheearth:fire,sword,war.For

fivepeoplewillbeinahouse:

itwillbethreeagainsttwo

andtwoagainstthree,

fatheragainstson

andsonagainstfather,

andtheywillstandalone.”

Saying17

Jesussaid,“Ishallgiveyou

whatnoeyehasseen,

whatnoearhasheard,

whatnohandhastouched,

andwhathasneverarisen

inahumanmind.”

Saying18

ThedisciplessaidtoJesus,“Tellusabouttheend.”

Jesussaid,“Haveyoualreadydiscoveredthebeginning,thatnowyoucanseek

aftertheend?Forwherethebeginningis,theendwillbe.

Blessedisonewhostandsatthebeginning:

thatonewillknowtheend,andwillnottastedeath.”

Saying19

Jesussaid,

“Blessedisonewhocametolifebeforecomingtolife.

“Ifyoubecomemydisciplesandhearkentomysayings,thesestoneswillserve

you.

“FortherearefivetreesinParadiseforyou.Theydonotchange,summeror

winter,andtheirleavesdonotdrop.Whoeverknowsaboutthemwillnottaste

death.”

Saying20

ThedisciplessaidtoJesus,“Telluswhatthekingdomofheavenislike.”

Hesaidtothem,“Itislikeamustardseed,thetiniestofallseeds.Butwhenitfalls

onpreparedsoil,itgrowsintoalargeplantandsheltersthebirdsofthesky.”

Saying21

MarysaidtoJesus,“Whomareyourdiscipleslike?”

Hesaid,“Theyarelikelittlechildrenlivinginafieldthatisnottheirs.Whenthe

ownersofthefieldcome,theywillsay,‘Giveourfieldbacktous.’Thechildrenwill

takeofftheirclothesinthepresenceoftheowners,andthusgivethefieldbackand

returnittothem.

“ForthisreasonIsay:iftheownerofahouseknowsthatathiefiscoming,the

ownerwillbeonguardbeforethethiefarrives,andwillnotletthethiefbreakinto

thehouseoftheestateandstealthepossessions.

“Asforyou,then,beonguardagainsttheworld.Girdyourselvesandpreparefor

action,sothattherobberswillfindnowaytoprevailagainstyou,forthetroubleyou

expectwillcome.

“Lettherebeamongyouapersonwhounderstands.Whenthecropripened,a

reapercamequicklywithsickleinhandandharvestedit.Whoeverhasearstohear

oughttolisten.”

Saying22

Jesussawsomebabiesnursing.Hesaidtohisdisciples,“Thesenursingbabiesare

likethosewhoenterthekingdom.”

Theysaidtohim,“Thenshallweenterthekingdomasbabies?”

Jesussaidtothem,

“Whenyoumakethetwointoone,

whenyoumaketheinnerliketheouter

andtheouterliketheinner,

andtheupperlikethelower,

whenyoumakemaleandfemaleintoasingleone,

sothatthemalewillnotbemale

andthefemalewillnotbefemale,

whenyoumakeeyesreplacinganeye,

ahandreplacingahand,

afootreplacingafoot,

andanimagereplacinganimage,

thenyouwillenterthekingdom.”

Saying23

Jesussaid,“Ishallchooseyou,

onefromathousand

andtwofromtenthousand,

andthesewillstandasasingleone.”

Saying24

Hisdisciplessaid,“Showustheplacewhereyouare,forwemustseekit.”

Hesaidtothem,“Whoeverhasearsoughttolisten.Thereislightwithinan

enlightenedperson,anditshinesonthewholeworld.Ifthelightdoesnotshine,itis

dark.”

Saying25

Jesussaid,

“Loveyourcompanionlikeyourlife,

protectsuchaonelikethepupilofyoureye.

Saying26

Jesussaid,“Youseethespeckthatisinyourcompanion’seye,butyoudonotsee

thebeamthatisinyourowneye.Whenyoutakethebeamoutofyourowneye,then

youwillseewellenoughtotakethespeckoutofyourcompanion’seye.

Saying27

“Ifyoudonotfastfromtheworld,youwillnotfindthekingdom.

IfyoudonotkeeptheSabbathaSabbath,youwillnotseetheFather.”

Saying28

Jesussaid,

“Itookmystandinthemiddleoftheworld,

andinthefleshIappearedtopeople.
Ifoundthemalldrunk,
andIdidnotfindanyofthemthirsty.

Mysoulachedforthesehumanchildren,because

theyareblindofheartanddonotsee,

thattheycameintotheworldempty,

andtheyalsoseektodepartfromtheworldempty.

Butnowtheyaredrunk.Whentheybecomesober,thentheywillrepent.”

Saying29

Jesussaid,“Ifthefleshcameintobeingbecauseofspirit,itisamazing,butif

spiritcameintobeingbecauseofthebody,itisevenmoreamazing.Iamamazed,

though,athowsuchgreatwealthhassettledintosuchpoverty.”

Saying30

Jesussaid,“Wheretherearethreedeities,theyaredivine.Wheretherearetwo

orone,Iampresent.”

Saying31

Jesussaid,

“Aprophetisnotpopularinthehometown,

adoctordoesnothealfamilyandfriends.”

Saying32

Jesussaid,“Acityfoundedandfortifieduponahighhillcanneitherfallnorbe

hidden.”

Saying33

Jesussaid,“Preachfromyourroofswhatyouwillhearinyourear.Fornoone

lightsalampandthenputsitunderabasket,nordoesoneputitinahiddencorner.

Rather,oneputsitonastandsothatallwhocomeandgowillseeitslight.”

Saying34

Jesussaid,“Ifoneblindpersonleadsanotherblindperson,bothofthemwillfall

intoahole.”

Saying35

Jesussaid,“Onecannotenterthehouseofastrongpersonandtakeitbyforce

withouttyingtheowner’shands.Thenonecanlootthehouse.”

Saying36

Jesussaid,“Donotworry,frommorningtoeveningandfromeveningto

morning,aboutwhatyouwillwear.”

Saying37

Hisdisciplessaid,“Whenwillyouappeartous,andwhenshallweseeyou?”

Jesussaid,

“Whenyoustripandarenotembarrassed,

andyoutakeyourclothes

andthrowthemdownunderyourfeetlikelittlechildren

andtramplethem,

thenyouwillseetheChildoftheLivingOneandyouwillnotbeafraid.”

Saying38

Jesussaid,“OftenyouhavedesiredtohearthesesayingsthatIamtellingyou,

andyouhavenooneelsefromwhomtohearthem.Therewillbedaysyouwillseek

mebutwillnotfindme.”

Saying39

Jesussaid,“ThePhariseesandthescribeshavetakenthekeystoknowledgeand

havehiddenthem.Theyhavenotentered,norhavetheyallowedthosewhowantto

entertodoso.Asforyou,beascleverassnakesandasinnocentasdoves.”

Saying40

Jesussaid,“AgrapevinehasbeenplantedawayfromtheFather.Sinceitisnot

healthy,itwillbepulledupbyitsrootsanddestroyed.”

Saying41

Jesussaid,“Whoeverhassomethinginhandwillbegivenmore,andwhoever

hasnothingwillbedeprivedofeventhetinybitthatpersonhas.”

Saying42

Jesussaid,“Bewanderers.”

Saying43

Hisdisciplessaidtohim,“Whoareyoutosaythesethingstous?”

“YoudonotknowwhoIamfromwhatIsaytoyou.Insteadyouhavebecomelike

theJews:eithertheylovethetreebuthateitsfruit,ortheylovethefruitbuthatethe

tree.”

Saying44

Jesussaid,“WhoeverblasphemesagainsttheFatherwillbeforgiven,and

whoeverblasphemesagainsttheChildwillbeforgiven.Butwhoeverblasphemes

againsttheholySpiritwillnotbeforgiven,eitheronearthorinheaven.”

Saying45

Jesussaid,“Grapesarenotpickedfromthornbushes,norarefigsgatheredfrom

thistles,forsuchplantsyieldnofruit.Agoodpersonbringsforthgoodfromthe

storehouse,whileabadpersonbringsforthevilfromthecorruptstorehouseinthe

heart,andsaysevilthings.Forfromtheabundanceoftheheartthispersonbrings

forthevil.”

Saying46

Jesussaid,“FromAdamtoJohntheBaptist,amongthosebornofwomen,noone

issomuchgreaterthanJohntheBaptistthatoneneednotbowtheheadbeforeJohn.

YetIhavesaidthatwhoeveramongyoubecomeslikeachildwillknowthekingdom,

andwillbecomegreaterthanJohn.”

Saying47

Jesussaid,“Apersoncannotmounttwohorsesorbendtwobows,andaservant

cannotservetwolords.Thatservantwouldrespectoneandoffendtheother.

“Nopersondrinksagedwineandimmediatelywantstodrinknewwine.Newwine

isnotpouredintoagedwineskins,fortheskinsmaybreak,andagedwineisnot

pouredintonewwineskins,forthewinemayspoil.

“Anoldpatchisnotsewnontoanewpieceofclothing,fortherewouldbearip.”

Saying48

Jesussaid,“Iftwomakepeacewitheachotherinasinglehouse,theywillsayto

themountain,‘Move!’anditwillmove.”

Saying49

Jesussaid,

“Blessedarethosewhoarealoneandchosen:youwillfindthekingdom.

Foryouhavecomefromit,andyouwillreturnthereagain.”

Saying50

Jesussaid,“Ifsomesaytoyou,‘Wherehaveyoucomefrom?’saytothem,‘We

havecomefromthelight,

wherethelightcameintobeingbyitself,

establisheditself,

andappearedinanimageoflight.’

“Iftheysaytoyou,‘Areyouthelight?’say,‘Weareits

andwearethechosenofthelivingFather.’

“Iftheyaskyou,‘WhatistheevidenceofyourFatherinyou?’tellthem,

‘Itismotionandrest.’”

Saying51

Hisdisciplessaidtohim,“Whenwillthefinalrestforthedeadtakeplace,and

whenwillthenewworldcome?”

Hesaidtothem,“Whatyoulookforhasalreadycome,butyoudonotknowit.”

Saying52

Hisdisciplessaidtohim,“Twenty-fourprophetshavespokeninIsrael,andthey

allspokeofyou.”

Hesaidtothem,“YouhaveignoredtheLivingOnewhoiswithyou,andhave

spokenonlyofthedead.”

Saying53

Hisdisciplessaidtohim,“Iscircumcisionusefulornot?”

Hesaidtothem,“Ifitwereuseful,afatherwouldproducechildrenalready

circumcisedfromtheirmother.Rather,thetrue,spiritualcircumcisionisusefulin

everyrespect.”

Saying54

Jesussaid,

“Blessedarethepoor:yoursisthekingdomofheaven.”

Saying55

Jesussaid,

“Whoeverdoesnothatefatherandmothercannotbemydisciple,

andwhoeverdoesnothatebrothersand

sisters,

andbearthecrossasIdo,

willnotbeworthyofme.”

Saying56

Jesussaid,

“Whoeverhascometoknowtheworldhasdiscoveredacarcass,

andwhoeverhasdiscoveredacarcassisworthmorethantheworld.”

Saying57

Jesussaid,“ThekingdomoftheFatherislikeapersonwhohadgoodseed.An

enemycameatnightandsowedweedsamongthegoodseed.Thefarmerdidnotlet

theworkerspulluptheweeds,butsaidtothem,‘Ifearthatyouwillgotopullupthe

weedsbutwillpullupthewheatalongwiththem.’Foratharvesttimetheweedswill

beconspicuous,andwillbepulledupandburned.”

Saying58

Jesussaid,

“Blessedisonewhohassuffered:thatonehasfoundlife.”

Saying59

Jesussaid,“LooktotheLivingOneaslongasyoulive,thatyoumaynotdieand

thentrytoseetheLivingOnebutbeunabletosee.”

Saying60

TheysawaSamaritancarryingalambandgoingtoJudea.

Hesaidtohisdisciples,“Whyishecarryingthelambaround?”

Theysaidtohim,“Sothathemaykillitandeatit.”

Hesaidtothem,“Hewillnoteatitwhileitisalive,butonlyafterithasbeen

killedandhasbecomeacarcass.”

Theysaid,“Itcannothappenanyotherway.”

Hesaidtothem,“Soalsowithyou:seekaplaceofrestforyourselves,thatyou

maynotbecomeacarcassandbeeaten.”

Saying61

Jesussaid,“Twowillrelaxonacouch:

onewilldie,

onewilllive.”

Salomesaid,“Whoareyou,sir?Yousatonmycouchandatefrommytableasifyouare

somebody.”

Jesussaidtoher,

“IamfromtheOnewhoiswhole,

IwasgrantedmyFather’sestate.”

Salomesaid,“Iamyourdisciple.”

Jesussaid,“ForthisreasonIsay:

onewhoiswholewillbefilledwithlight,

butonewhoisfragmentedwillbefilledwithdarkness.”

Saying62

Jesussaid,“Idisclosemymysteriestothosewhoareworthyofmymysteries.Do

notletyourlefthandknowwhatyourrighthandisdoing.”

Saying63

Jesussaid,“Therewasarichfarmerwhohadagreatdealofmoney.Thefarmer

said,‘IshallinvestmymoneysothatImaysow,reap,plant,andfillmystorehouses

withproduce.ThenIshallhaveeverything.’Theseweretheplans,butthatverynight

thefarmerdied.Whoeverhasearsoughttolisten.”

Saying64

Jesussaid,“Acertainpersonwasentertainingguests.Whendinnerwasready,

thehostsentaservanttoinvitetheguests.

“Theservantwenttothefirstoneandsaid,‘Mylordinvitesyou.’

“Theguestsaid,‘Somemerchantsowememoney,andtheyarecomingtome

tonight.Imustgotogiveinstructionstothem.Pleaseexcusemefromdinner.’

“Theservantwenttoanotherguestandsaid,‘Mylordinvitesyou.’

“Theguestsaid,‘Ihaveboughtahouse,andIhavebeencalledawayfortheday.I

havenotime.’

“Theservantwenttoanotherguestandsaid,‘Mylordinvitesyou.’

“Theguestsaid,‘Myfriendistobemarried,andImustarrangethedinner,soI

shallnotbeabletocome.Pleaseexcusemefromdinner.’

“Theservantwenttoyetanotherguestandsaid,‘Mylordinvitesyou.’

“Theguestsaid,‘Ihaveboughtafarm,andIamgoingtocollecttherent,soIshall

notbeabletocome.Pleaseexcuseme.’

“Theservantreturnedandsaidtothelord,“Thosewhomyouinvitedtodinner

haveaskedtobeexcused.’

“Thelordsaidtotheservant,‘Gooutonthestreets,andbringbackwhomeveryou

findtoeatmydinner.’

“BusinesspeopleandmerchantswillnotentertherealmofmyFather.”

Saying65

Hesaid,“Therewasagoodpersonwhoownedavineyard.Theownerrenteditto

somefarmers,thatthefarmersmightworkinitandtheownermightcollectthe

profitsfromthem.Theownersentaservant,thatthefarmersmightturnoverthe

profitsfromthevineyard,butinsteadtheyseized,beat,andalmostkilledtheservant.

Sotheservantreturnedandtoldthelord.Thelordsaid,‘Perhapstheservantdidnot

knowthem.’

“Theownersentanotherservant,andthefarmersbeatthatone,too.

“Thenthelordsenthischildandsaid,‘Perhapstheywillshowmychildsome

respect.’Butsincethefarmersknewthatthechildwastheheirtothevineyard,they

seizedandkilledthechild.

“Whoeverhasearsoughttolisten.”

Saying66

Jesussaid,“Showmethestonethebuildersrejected:thatisthecornerstone.”

Saying67

Jesussaid,

“Whoeverknowseverything

butlackswithin

lackseverything.”

Saying68

Jesussaid,

“Blessedareyouwhenyouarehatedandpersecuted,

andnoonewilldiscovertheplacewhereyouhavebeenpersecuted.”

Saying69

Jesussaid,

“Blessedarethosewhohavebeenpersecutedintheirhearts:

theytrulyknowtheFather.
“Blessedarethosewhoarehungry,
forthestomachofthefamishedwillbefilled.”

Saying70

Jesussaid,

“Ifyoubringforthwhatiswithinyou,whatyouhavewillsaveyou.

Ifyoudonothavethatwithinyou,whatyoudonothavewithinyouwill

killyou.”

Saying71

Jesussaid,“Ishalldestroythishouse,andnoonewillbeabletorebuildit.”

Saying72

Apersonsaidtohim,“Tellmyrelativestodividemyfather’spropertywithme.”

Hesaid,“Sir,whomademeadivider?”

Heturnedtohisdisciplesandsaidtothem,“Iamnotadivider,amI?”

Saying73

Jesussaid,“Theharvestislargebuttheworkersarefew,sobegtheLordtosend

outworkerstotheharvest.”

Someonesaid,“Lord,manyarearoundthewell,butnooneisinthewell.”

Jesussaid,“Manyarestandingbythedoor,butthosewhoarealonewillenterthe

weddingchamber.”

Saying74

Jesussaid,“ThekingdomoftheFatherislikeamerchantwhohadasupplyof

merchandise,andthenfoundapearl.Nowthemerchantwassmart:hesoldthe

merchandiseandboughtthatsinglepearlforhimself.

“Soalsowithyou:seekafterthetreasure

thatisunfailing,

thatisabiding,

wherenomothcomestoconsume,

andnowormdestroys.”

Saying75

Jesussaid,

“Iamthelightthatisoverallthings.

Iamall:

allcameforthfromme,

andallattainedtome.

Splitapieceofwood,

andIhangingthere.

Pickupastone,

andyouwillfindmethere.”

Saying76

Jesussaid,“Whyhaveyoucomeouttothecountryside?Toseegrassblownby

thewind?Andtoseeapersondressedinrichclothing,likeyourrulersandyour

aristocrats?Theyaredressedinrichclothing,buttheycannotunderstandtruth.”

Saying77

Awomaninthecrowdsaidtohim,

“Blessedarethewombthatboreyou

andthebreaststhatfedyou.”

Hesaidtoher,

“BlessedarethosewhohaveheardthewordoftheFather

andhavetrulykeptit.

Forthetimewillcomewhenyouwillsay,

‘Blessedarethewombthathasnotconceivedandthebreaststhathavenot

producedmilk.’”

Saying78

Jesussaid,

“Whoeverhascometoknowtheworldhasdiscoveredthebody,

andwhoeverhasdiscoveredthebodyisworthmorethantheworld.”

Saying79

Jesussaid,

“Letonewhoiswealthyreign,

andletonewhohaspowerrenounceit.”

Saying80

Jesussaid,

“Whoeverisclosetomeisclosetothefire,andwhoeverisfarfrommeisfar

fromthekingdom.”

Saying81

Jesussaid,“Imagesarevisibletopeople,butthelightwithinishiddeninthe

Father’simageoflight.Hewillrevealhimself,buthisimageishiddenbyhislight.”

Saying82

Jesussaid,

“Whenyouseealikenessofyourself,youarehappy.

Butwhenyouseeyourimagesthatcameintobeingbeforeyou,andthat

neitherdienorbecomevisible,

howmuchyouwillbeabletotolerate!”

Saying83

Jesussaid,“Adamcamefromgreatpowerandgreatwealth,buthewasnot

worthyofyou.Forifhehadbeenworthy,hewouldnothavetasteddeath.”

Saying84

Jesussaid,“Foxeshavedensandbirdshavenests,buttheChildofHumanityhas

noplacetolayhisheadandrest.”

Saying85

Jesussaid,

“Miserableisthebodythatdependsonanotherbody,

andmiserableisthesoulthatdependsonthetwoofthem.”

Saying86

Jesussaid,“Theangelsandtheprophetswillcometoyouandgiveyouwhatis

yours.You,inturn,givethemwhatyouhave,andsaytoyourselves,‘Whenwillthey

comeandtakewhatistheirs?’”

Saying87

Jesussaid,“Whydoyouwashtheoutsideofthecup?Doyounotunderstandthat

theonewhomadetheinsidealsomadetheoutside?”

Saying88

Jesussaid,“Cometome,

formyyokeiseasy

andmylordshipisgentle,

andyouwillfindrestforyourselves.”

Saying89

Theysaidtohim,“Telluswhoyouaresowecanbelieveinyou.”

Hesaidtothem,“Youstudythefaceoftheskyandtheearth,butyouhavenot

cometoknowtheonewhoisbeforeyou,andyoudonotknowhowtostudythis

moment.”

Saying90

Jesussaid,“Seekandyouwillfind.InthepastIdidnotanswerallyour

questions.NowIamwillingtoanswerthem,butyounolongerask.

Saying91

“Donotgivewhatisholytodogs,fortheymaydropitonamanurepile.

Donotthrowpearlstoswine,fortheymaymakethemworthless.”

Saying92

Jesussaid,

“Whoeverseekswillfind,

whoeverknockswillbeletin.”

Saying93

Jesussaid,“Ifyouhavemoney,donotlenditatinterest.Rather,giveitto

someonewhowillnotreturnit.”

Saying94

Jesussaid,“ThekingdomoftheFatherislikeawomanwhotookalittleyeast,

hiditindough,andmadelargeloavesofbread.Whoeverhasearsoughttolisten.”

Saying95

Jesussaid,“ThekingdomoftheFatherislikeawomanwhowascarryingajar

fullofflour.Whileshewaswalkingonaroadfarfromhome,thehandleofthejar

brokeandtheflourspilledbehindherontheroad.Shedidnotknowit:shehadnot

noticedtheproblem.Whenshereachedherhouse,sheputthejardownand

discoveredthatitwasempty.”

Saying96

Jesussaid,“ThekingdomoftheFatherislikesomeonewhowantedtoputa

powerfulpersontodeath.Hedrewhisswordathomeandthrustitintoawalltofind

outwhetherhishandwouldgothrough.Thenhekilledthepowerfulone.”

Saying97

Thedisciplessaidtohim,“Yourbrothersandyourmotherarestandingoutside.”

Hesaidtothem,“ThoseherewhodothewillofmyFatheraremybrothersandmy

mother.TheywillenterthekingdomofmyFather.”

Saying98

TheyshowedJesusagoldcoinandsaidtohim,“Caesar’speopledemandthatwe

paytaxes.”

Hesaidtothem,“GiveCaesarwhatisCaesar’s,giveGodwhatisGod’s,and

givemewhatismine.

Saying99

“WhoeverdoesnothatefatherandmotherasIdocannotbemydisciple,

andwhoeverdoesnotlovefatherandmotherasIdocannotbemydisciple.

Formymother
butmytruemothergavemelife.”

Saying100

Jesussaid,“WoetothePharisees,fortheyarelikeadogsleepinginthefood

troughofcows:thedogneithereatsnorletsthecowseat.”

Saying101

Jesussaid,

“Blessedisthepersonwhoknowswheretherobberswillenter.

Thenthepersonmayarise,bringtheestatetogether,andprepareforactionbeforethe

robbersbreakin.”

Saying102

Theysaidtohim,“Come,letuspraytoday,andfast.”

Jesussaid,“WhatsinhaveIcommitted,orhowhaveIfailed?

“Rather,whenthebridegroomleavestheweddingchamber,thenletpeoplefast

andpray.”

Saying103

Jesussaid,“Whoeverrecognizesfatherandmotherwillbecalledthechildofa

whore.”

Saying104

Jesussaid,

“Whenyoumakethetwointoone,youwillbecomechildrenofhumanity,

andwhenyousay,‘Mountain,move!’itwillmove.”

Saying105

Jesussaid,“Thekingdomislikeashepherdwhohadahundredsheep.Oneof

them,thebiggest,wanderedaway.Theshepherdlefttheninety-nineandsearchedfor

thatoneuntilitwasfound.Aftergoingtosuchtrouble,theshepherdsaidtothe

sheep,‘Iloveyoumorethantheninety-nine.’”

Saying106

Jesussaid,

“Whoeverdrinksfrommymouthwillbelikeme,

andIshallbethatperson,
andwhatishiddenwillberevealedtothatone.”

Saying107

Jesussaid,“Thekingdomislikeapersonwhohadatreasurehiddeninafield

butdidnotknowit.Atdeaththeownerleftthefieldtohischild.Thechilddidnot

knowaboutthetreasureeither,buttookoverthefieldandsoldit.Thebuyerwent

plowinganddiscoveredthetreasure,andbegantolendmoneyatinterestto

whomeverhepleased.”

Saying108

Jesussaid,

“Letonewhofindstheworld,

andbecomeswealthy,

renouncetheworld.”

Saying109

Jesussaid,“Theheavensandtheearthwillrollupinfrontofyou,butwhoever

islivingontheLivingOnewillnotseedeathnorfear.”

Saying110

Jesussays,“Whoeverfindsselfisworthmorethantheworld.”

Saying111

Jesussaid,

“Woetothefleshthatdependsonthesoul!

Woetothesoulthatdependsontheflesh!”

Saying112

Hisdisciplessaidtohim,“Whenwillthekingdomcome?”

“Itwillnotcomebylookingforit.Norwillitdotosay,‘Behold,overhere!’or

‘Behold,overthere!’Rather,thekingdomoftheFatherisspreadoutontheearth,but

peopledonotseeit.”

Saying113

SimonPetersaidtothem,“LetMaryleaveus,becausewomenarenotworthyof

life.”

Jesussaid,“Behold,Ishallguidehersoastomakehermale,thatshetoomay

becomealivingspiritlikeyoumen.Foreverywomanwhomakesherselfmalewill

enterthekingdomofheaven.”

Chapter1

1

ThesecretsayingsthattheSaviorspoketoJudasThomasandthatI,Matthew,recorded

asIwaswalkingandlisteningtothemspeakwitheachother.

2

TheSaviorsaid,“BrotherThomas,whileyoustillhavetimeintheworld,listentome

andIshallexplainwhatyouhavebeenreflectinguponinyourmind.

3

“Sinceitissaidthatyouaremytwinandmytruefriend,examineyourselfand

understand

whoyouare,

howyoulive,

andwhatwillbecomeofyou.

4

Sinceyouarecalledmybrother,youshouldnotbeignorantaboutyourself.Iknowyou

understandsomethings,foralreadyyouunderstandthatIam

5

theknowledgeoftruth.Whileyouarewalkingwithme,thoughyouareignorantofother

things,alreadyyouhaveobtainedknowledge,andyouwillbedescribed

6

asonewhoknowsself.For

whoeverdoesnotknowselfdoesnotknowanything,

butwhoeverknowsselfalreadyhasacquiredknowledgeaboutthedepthof

theuniverse.

7

So,mybrotherThomas,youhaveseenwhatishiddenfrompeople,whattheystumble

overintheirignorance.”

Chapter2

1

ThomassaidtotheLord,“ForthisreasonIbegyoutotellmewhatIaskbeforeyour

ascension.

2

WhenIhearfromyouaboutthethingsthatarehidden,thenIcanspeakofthem.Foritis

cleartomethatthetruthishardtoaccomplishinfrontofpeople.”

3

TheSavioransweredandsaid,

“Ifwhatcanbeseenisobscuretoyou,howcanyoucomprehendwhat

cannotbeseen?

4

Ifdeedsoftruththatarevisibletotheworldarehardforyoutoaccomplish,

thenhowwillyouaccomplishthingsthatareinvisible,

thingsconcernedwiththeexaltedgreatnessandfullness?

5

Howcanyoubecalledworkers?Foryouarestillstudents,andhavenotyetachievedthe

greatnessofperfection.”

6

ThomasansweredandsaidtotheSavior,“Tellusaboutthesethingsyousaycannotbe

seenbutarehiddenfromus.”

7

TheSaviorsaid,“Allthebodiesofhumansandanimalsareirrationalfrombirth.

Indeed,thisisclear

8

fromthewayacreature…Beingsthatcomefromabove,however,donotlivelikethe

creaturesyou

9

cansee.Rather,theyderivetheirlifefromtheirownroot,andtheircropprovides

nourishmentforthem.

10

“Thesebodiesyoucansee,ontheotherhand,feedoncreatureslikethem,andforthis

reasonthey

11

aresubjecttochange.Whateverissubjecttochangewillperishandbelost,andhasno

morehopeoflife,

12

becausethisbodyisananimalbody.Justasanimalbodiesperish,soalsowillthese

figuresperish.Aretheynottheresultofcopulation,likeanimalbodies?

13

Ifthiskindofbody,too,istheresultofcopulation,howcanitgivebirthtoanything

differentfromtheanimals?

14

“Forthisreason,then,youarebabiesuntilyouattainperfection.”

Chapter3

1

Thomasanswered,“ThatiswhyItellyou,Lord,thatpeoplewhospeakaboutwhatis

invisibleandhardtoexplainarelikearcherswhoshootarrowsat

2

atargetduringthenight.Ofcourse,theyshootarrowslikeanyotherarchers,sincethey

areshootingatatarget,butinthiscasethetargetcannotbeseen.

3

Whenthelightcomesforth,however,andbanishesthedarkness,thenwhateachperson

hasdonewillbecomeclear.

4

“Youareourlight,andyoubringenlightenment,Lord.”

5

Jesussaid,“Lightdwellsinlight.”

6

Thomassaid,“Lord,whydoesthisvisiblelightthatshinesuponpeopleriseandset?”

7

TheSaviorsaid,“BlessedThomas,thisvisiblelightshinesuponyounottokeepyou

here,butto

8

makeyouleave.Whenallthechosenoneslayasidetheiranimalnature,thislightwill

withdrawtotherealmofitsbeing,anditsbeingwillwelcomeitbecauseofitsfine

service.”

9

ThentheSaviorcontinuedandsaid,

“Ounsearchableloveofthelight!

10

Obitterfireburningwithinhumanbodies,inthemarrowoftheirbones,

burningwithinthemnightandday,ragingwithinhumanlimbs,

11

makingmindsdrunkandsoulsderanged,

arousingmenandwomendayandnight,arousingthemsecretlyandvisibly.

12

Formenarearoused,andtheyarousewomenandwomenarousemen.

13

“Thereforeitissaid,‘Everyonewhoseekstruthfromtruewisdomwillfashionwingsin

ordertoflyawayandescapefromthepassionthatinflames

14

humanspirits.’Theseekerwillfashionwingsinordertoescapefromeveryspiritthatcan

beseen.”

Chapter4

1

Thomasansweredandsaid,“Lord,thisiswhatIamasking,becauseIknowyoucan

helpus,asyousay.

2

TheSavioransweredagainandsaid,“Thatiswhywemustspeaktoyou,forthisis

instructionforthosewhoareperfect.Ifyouwanttobeperfect,youwillkeepthese

teachings.Ifnot,youdeservetobecalled

3

ignorant.Forawisepersoncannotassociatewithafool.Thewisepersonisperfectinall

wisdom,butto

4

thefool,goodandevilareoneandthesame.For

thewisepersonwillbenourishedbytruth,

andwillbelikeatreegrowingbyariver.

5

“Somepeoplehavewingsbutrunafterwhatthey

6

cansee,whatisfarfromtruth.Forthefirethatleadsthemwillgiveanillusionoftruth,

andwillshineon

7

themwithtransitorybeauty.Itwillmakethemprisonersofthedelightsofdarkness,and

capturethem

8

insweet-smellingpleasures.Itwillmakethemblindwithunquenchablepassion,itwill

inflametheirsouls,andbelikeastakethatisjammedintotheir

9

heartsandcanneverberemoved.Orlikeabitinthemouth,itdirectsthemasitwishes.

10

“Thisfirehasboundthesepeoplewithitschains,andtiedalltheirlimbswiththebitter

bondofdesireforvisiblethings,whichchange,anddecay,and

11

fluctuateimpulsively.Suchpeoplearealwaysdraggeddownward.Whentheyareputto

death,theyjoinallthefilthyanimals.”

12

Thomasansweredandsaid,“Thisisclear,andhasbeensaid.…”

13

TheSavioransweredandsaid,

“Blessedisthewisepersonwhoseekstruth.

Whenonefindsit,onerestsuponitforever,

andisnotafraidofthosewhowanttodisturbone.”

14

Thomasansweredandsaid,“Isitgoodforus,Lord,tofindrestamongourown

people?”

15

TheSaviorsaid,“Yes,itdoeshelp.Itisgoodforyou,sincewhatisvisibleinhuman

existencewill

16

passaway.Forthefleshlybodyofpeoplewillpassaway,andwhenitdisintegrates,itwill

finditsplaceinwhatisvisibleandcanbeseen.

17

“Thenthefirethatthosepeopleseewillmakethemsuffer,becauseoftheirloveforthe

faiththeyoncehad.Theywillbebroughtbacktothevisible

18

realm.Moreover,thosepeoplewhocanseeintheinvisiblerealmwillbeconsumed,

withoutthatfirstlove,intheirconcernaboutlifeandtheragingofthefire.

19

“Thereisbutalittletimebeforewhatyoucanseewillpassaway.Thenshapeless

ghostswillcomeandliveinthetombsamongthecorpses,foreverbringingpainand

destructionofsoul.”

Chapter5

1

Thomasansweredandsaid,

“Whatcanwesayinthefaceofthesethings?

Whatshallwesaytopeoplewhoareblind?

Whatinstructionshallwegivetothesemiserablemortals?

2

Theysay,‘Wehavecometodogood,nottocurse,’

butadd,‘Ifwehadnotbeenbornintheflesh,wewouldnothaveknown

aboutsin.’”

3

TheSaviorsaid,“Thisistrue:donotthinkofthemashumanbeings,butconsiderthem

asanimals.

4

Forasanimalsdevoureachother,soalsopeoplelikethisdevoureachother.

5

“Moreover,thekingdomistakenfromthem,since

theylovethedelightsoffire,

theyareslavesofdeath,

andtheyrevelinfilth.

6

Theyfulfillthelustoftheirparents.Thesepeoplewillbethrowndownintohell,and

willbebeaten

7

astheirbitter,wickednaturesdeserve.Theywillbewhippedtodrivethemdowntothe

unknown,andwillleavethelimbsoftheirbodiesbehind,notwithcouragebutwith

despair.

8

“Yetthesepeople,beingfoolishandmad,are

9

happyintheanxietiesofthislife.Someofthosewhorushintothismadnessdonotrealize

theyarefoolish,butthinktheyarewise.Theyaredrawntothebeautyofthebody,asifit

wouldnotperish.

10

Theirmindsturntothemselves,

theirthoughtsareontheirownpursuits,

butthefirewillconsumethem.”

11

Thomasansweredandsaid,“Lord,whatwillpeopledowhoarecastdowninthis

manner?Ifearforthem,formanyforcesopposethem.”

12

TheSavioransweredandsaid,“Doyounotalsohaveavisiblelife?”

13

JudascalledThomassaid,“Lord,youshouldspeakandIshouldlisten.”

14

TheSavioranswered,“ListentowhatIshallsay

15

toyou,andbelieveinthetruth.Whatsowsandwhatissownwillpassawayinfire,infire

andwater,and

16

willbehiddenindarktombs.Afteralongtimethefruitofwickedtreeswillappear,and

willbepunishedandslaughteredinanimalandhumanmouths,attheinstigationofthe

rain,thewind,theair,andthelightshiningabove.”

Chapter6

1

Thomasanswered,“Youhaveconvincedus,Lord.Wehavecometothisrealization,

andnowitisclear:

2

thisisasitis,andyourwordissufficientforus.Butthesesayingsthatyouutterare

laughableandridiculous

3

totheworld,fortheyaremisunderstood.Howcanwegoforthandpreachthem,sincethe

worlddoesnotrespectus?”

4

TheSavioransweredandsaid,“Itellyouthetruth:whoeverlistenstowhatyouhave

tosayandturnsaway,orsneers,orsmirksatthesethings,willbehandedovertothe

rulerwhoisonhigh,who

5

rulesaskingoverallthepowers.Therulerwillforcethesepeopletoturnback,andwill

throwthemdownintohell,wheretheywillbeheldinacramped,dark

6

place.TheywillbeunabletoturnormovebecauseofthegreatdepthofTartarosandthe

bitterburden

7

oftheunderworld,whichholdsthemfast.Theywillbeimprisonedthereandwillnever

escape,fortheir

8

follywillnotbeforgiven.Therulerswhochasethemwillgivethemovertotheangel

Tartarouchos.Tartarouchoswilltakeupfierylashes,andchasethemwithfierywhipsthat

spewforthsparksintothefacesofthosebeingpursued.

9

Iftheyruntowardthewest,theyfindfire.

Iftheyturnsouth,theyfinditthere,too.

Iftheyturnnorth,eruptingfirethreatensthemagain.

10

Theycannotfindthewaytotheeast,either,torunthereandbesafe.

11

Forwhiletheywerestillembodiedtheydidnotfindthewaytheywouldneedtofollowon

thedayofjudgment.”

Chapter7

1

ThentheSaviorcontinuedandsaid,

“Woetoyougodlesspeople,

whohavenohope,

whoholdfasttowhatwillneverhappen!

2

Woetoyou

whohopeintheflesh,

andintheprisonthatwillperish!

3

Howlongwillyousleep?Ordoyouthinkthatwhat

4

youjudgetobeimperishablewillnotperish?Youbaseyourhopeupontheworld,and

yourgodisthislife.Youaredestroyingyoursouls!

5

Woetoyouwiththefireragingwithinforitisunquenchable!

6

Woetoyou,becausewheelsareturninginyourminds!

7

Woetoyou,becauseyouareasmolderingfireinside!

8

Thefirewilldevouryourfleshvisibly,

andtearyoursoulssecretly,

andprepareyouforeachother!

9

Woetoyouprisoners,foryouareboundincaves!

10

Youlaugh!Youexpressyourdelightwithfoolishlaughter!

11

Youdonotrealizethatyouwillbedestroyed,

youdonotrealizeyourplight,

youdonotunderstandthatyouliveindarknessanddeath!

12

Rather,youaredrunkwithfireandfullofbitterness.

13

Yourmindsarederangedbecauseofthesmolderingfirewithinyou,

andyouaredelightedbythepoisoningandbeatingbyyourenemies!

14

Darknesshasrisenoveryoulikethelight,foryouhaveexchangedyourfreedom

forslavery.

15

Youhavemadeyourmindsdark,

youhavegivenyourthoughtsovertofoolishness,

andyouhavechokedyourthoughtswiththesmokeofthefirewithinyou!

16

Yourlighthasbeenhiddenwithinadarkcloud,

youhavegrownfondofthefilthyclothingyouarewearing,

andyouhaveheldontoahopethatisnohope!

17

Whomdoyoubelieve?Doyounotknowthatyouall

18

are…?Youbaptizedyoursoulswiththewaterofdarkness!Yourushedintowhateveryou

desired!

19

Woetoyouwholiveinerror!

20

Youdonotseethatthelightofthesun,whichjudgestheuniverseandlooksdownupon

theuniverse,willencircleeverythingandmakeslavesofitsenemies.

21

Youdonotrealize,either,howthemoonlooksdownnightanddayandseesyour

slaughteredbodies.

22

Woetoyouwholoveintercourseandfilthyassociationwithwomankind!

23

Woetoyou,becausethepowersofyourbodieswillmakeyousuffer!

24

Woetoyouonwhomtheevildemonsact!

25

Woetoyouwhotemptthelimbsofyourbodieswithfire!

26

Whowillsprinkleacooldewuponyou,toputout

27

alltheburningandblazingwithinyou?Whowillmakethesunshineonyou,todriveout

thedarknesswithinyou,andputthedarknessandthefilthywateroutofsight?

Chapter8

1

“Thesunandthemoonwillgiveasweetsmelltoyou,andto

theair,

thespirit,

theearth,

andthewater.

2

“Forifthesundoesnotshineonthesebodies,theywillwasteawayanddielikeweeds

orgrass.Ifthesunshinesonweeds,theybecomevigorousandcan

3

chokeagrapevine.Butifagrapevinebecomesvigorous,castsitsshadowovertheweeds

andalltherestofthebrushgrowingalongwithit,andspreadsandflourishes,the

grapevinealoneinheritsthelandwhereitgrows,anddominateswhereveritcastsits

4

shadow.Whenitgrows,then,itdominatesthewholeland,producesabundantly,and

makesthe

5

lordevenhappier.Forthelordwouldhavesufferedmuchbecauseoftheseweedsbefore

finallypullingthemout,butthegrapevinedisposedofthemand

6

chokedthemallbyitself.Sotheweedsdiedandbecamelikeearth.”

Chapter9

1

ThenJesuscontinuedandsaid,

“Woetoyou,foryouhavenotlearned

thelesson…,thattheyrisefromdeath!

2

Blessedareyouwhoknowbeforehand

aboutwhatmayentrapyou,and

whofleewhatisalientoyou.

3

Blessedareyouwhoaremockedanddespised

becauseoftheloveyourLordhas

foryou.

4

Blessedareyouwhoweepandareafflicted

bythosewithouthope,foryouwillbe

releasedfromallthatbindsyou.

5

“Watchandpraythatyoumaynotbebornintheflesh,butthatyoumayleavethe

bitterbondageofthislife.

6

Whenyoupray,youwillfindrest,

foryouhaveleftpainandabuse

behind.

7

Whenyouleavebodilypainsandpassions,

youwillreceiverestfromtheGoodOne,

andyouwillreignwiththeKing,

youunitedwiththeKingandtheKing

unitedwithyou,

nowandforeverandever.

Amen.”

Chapter1

1

TheteachingoftheSavior,andtherevelationofthemysteriesandthingshiddenin

silence,thingsthathetaughttohisdiscipleJohn.

2

Oneday,whenJohnthebrotherofJames(thesonsofZebedee)wentuptothetemple,

ithappenedthataPhariseenamedArimanioscameovertohimandsaidtohim,“Where

isyourteacher,whomyouhavebeenfollowing?”

3

Johnsaidtohim,“Hehasreturnedtotheplacefromwhichhecame.”

4

ThePhariseesaidtohim,“ThisNazarenehasdeceivedyoubadly,filledyourearswith

lies,closedyourminds,andturnedyouawayfromthetraditionsofyourparents.”

5

WhenI,John,heardtheseremarks,Iturnedaway

6

fromthetempletowardaplaceofsolitude.Iwasverysad,andsaidwithinmyself,

HowwastheSaviorselected?

WhywashesentintotheworldbyhisFather?

7

WhoishisFather,whosenthim?

Towhatkindofeternalrealmshallwego?

8

Forwhatwashesayingwhenhetoldus,

“Thiseternalrealmtowhichyouwillgo

isacopyoftheimperishable

eternalrealm,”

butdidnotteachuswhatkindofrealmthatoneis?

9

AtthemomentIwasthinkingaboutthis,behold,theheavensopened,allcreation

underheavenlitup,

10

andtheworldshook.Iwasafraid,andbehold,Isaw

11

withinthelightachildstandingbyme.AsIwaslooking,hebecamelikeanolderperson.

Againhisappearancechanged,andwaslikethatofaservant.

12

Notthattherewereseveralpersonsbeforeme.Rather,therewasonefigurewithseveral

forms

13

withinthelight.Thesedifferentformscameintoviewoneafteranother,andthreeforms

appeared.

14

Hesaidtome,“John,John,whyareyoudoubting?Whyareyouafraid?Areyounot

familiarwiththisfigure?

15

“Thendonotbefainthearted!

Iamwithyoualways.

16

IamtheFather,

IamtheMother,

IamtheChild.

Iamtheincorruptibleandtheundefiledone.

17

Ihavecometotellyouabout

whatis,

whatwas,

andwhatistocome,

thatyoumayunderstandwhatisinvisibleandwhatisvisible;andtoteachyouabout

perfectHumanity.

18

Sonow,liftupyourhead,thatyoumayunderstandthethingsIshalltellyoutoday,and

thatyoumayrelatethesethingstoyourspiritualfriends,whoarefromtheunshakable

raceofperfectHumanity.”

Chapter2

1

WhenIaskedifImightunderstandthis,hesaidtome,“TheOneisasovereignthat

hasnothingover

2

it.ItisGodandFatherofall,

theInvisibleOnethatisoverall,

thatisimperishable,

thatispurelightnoeyecansee.

3

“ItistheinvisibleSpirit.Oneshouldnotthinkofitasagod,orlikeagod.Foritis

greaterthanagod,becauseithasnothingoveritandnolordaboveit.

4

Itdoesnotexistwithinanythingthatisinferiortoit,sinceeverythingexistsonlywithin

it.Itiseternal,

5

sinceitdoesnotneedanything.Foritisabsolutelycomplete:ithasneverlacked

anythinginordertobecomplete.Rather,ithasalwaysbeenabsolutelycompleteinlight.

6

Itisillimitable,sincethereisnothingbeforeittolimitit.

Itisunfathomable,sincethereisnothingbeforeittofathomit.

7

Itisimmeasurable,sincetherewasnothingbeforeittomeasureit.

Itisunobservable,sincenothinghasobservedit.

Itiseternal,andexistseternally.

8

Itisunutterable,sincenothingcouldcomprehendittoutterit.

Itishanging,sincethereisnothingbeforeittogiveitaname.

9

“Itistheimmeasurablelight,pure,holy,bright.Itisunutterable,andisperfectinits

imperishability.

10

Notthatitispartofperfection,orblessedness,ordivinity:itismuchgreater.

11

Itisneithercorporealnorincorporeal.

Itisneitherlargenorsmall.

12

Itisimpossibletosay,

‘Howmuchisit?’or‘Whatkindisit?’

fornoonecanunderstandit.

13

Itisnotoneamongmanythingsthatareinexistence:

14

itismuchgreater.Notthatitisactuallygreater.Rather,asitisinitself,itisnotapartof

theworldsoroftime,forwhateverispartofaworldwas

15

onceproducedbysomethingelse.Timewasnotallottedtoit,sinceitreceivesnothing

fromanyone.

16

Thatwouldbealoan.Theonewhoexistsfirstdoesnotneedanythingfromonewhois

later.Onthecontrary,thelateronelooksuptothefirstoneinitslight.

17

“ForthePerfectOneismajestic;itispurelyandimmeasurablygreat.

18

ItistheWorldthatgivesaworld,

theLifethatgiveslife,

theBlessedOnethatgivesblessedness,

theKnowledgethatgivesknowledge,

theGoodOnethatgivesgoodness,

theMercythatgivesmercyandredemption,

theGracethatgivesgrace.

19

Notthatitisactuallylikethis.Rather,itgivesimmeasurableandincomprehensiblelight.

20

“WhatshallItellyouaboutit?Itseternalrealmisimperishable:

itisquiet,

itissilent,

itisatrest,

anditisbeforeeverything.

21

Itistheheadofalltheworlds,anditsustainsthemthroughitsgoodness.

22

“Yetwewouldnotknow…,wewouldnotunderstandwhatisimmeasurable,wereit

notforonewhohascomefromtheFatherandhastoldusthesethings.

Chapter3

1

“ForthePerfectOnebeholdsitselfinthelightsurroundingit.Thisisthespringofthe

wateroflife

2

thatgivesforthalltheworldsofeverykind.ThePerfectOnegazesuponitsimage,seesit

inthespringofthespirit,andfallsinlovewiththeluminouswater.Thisisthespringof

pure,luminouswatersurroundingthePerfectOne.

3

“ItsThoughtbecameactive,andshewhoappearedinthepresenceoftheFatherin

shininglightcame

4

forth.Sheisthefirstpower:sheprecededeverything,andcameforthfromtheFather’s

mindastheForethought

5

ofall.HerlightresemblestheFather’slight;astheperfectpower,sheistheimageofthe

perfect

6

andinvisiblevirginSpirit.Sheis

thefirstpower,

theglory,

Barbelo,

theperfectgloryamongtheworlds,

theemergingglory.

7

SheglorifiedandpraisedthevirginSpirit,forshehadcomeforththroughtheSpirit.

8

“SheisthefirstThought,theimageoftheSpirit.Shebecametheuniversalwomb,for

sheprecedeseverything,

thecommonParent,

thefirstHumanity,

theholySpirit,

thetriplemale,

thetriplepower,

theandrogynousonewiththreenames,

theeternalrealmamongtheinvisiblebeings,

thefirsttocomeforth.

9

“BarbeloaskedtheinvisiblevirginSpirittogiveherForeknowledge,andtheSpirit

agreed.WhentheSpiritagreed,Foreknowledgeappeared,andstoodbyForethought.

Foreknowledgecomesfromthe

10

ThoughtoftheinvisiblevirginSpirit.ItglorifiedtheSpiritandtheperfectpowerBarbelo,

forithadcomeintobeingthroughher.

11

“SheaskedagaintobegivenImperishability,andtheSpiritagreed.WhentheSpirit

agreed,Imperishabilityappeared,andstoodbyThoughtandForeknowledge.

12

ItglorifiedtheInvisibleOneandBarbelo,forithadcomeintobeingthroughher.

13

“BarbeloaskedtobegivenLifeEternal,andthe

14

invisibleSpiritagreed.WhentheSpiritagreed,LifeEternalappeared,andtheystood

togetherandglorifiedtheinvisibleSpiritandBarbelo,fortheyhadcomeintobeing

throughher.

15

“SheaskedagaintobegivenTruth,andtheinvisible

16

Spiritagreed.Truthappeared,andtheystoodtogetherandglorifiedthegoodinvisible

SpiritandBarbelo,fortheyhadcomeintobeingthroughher.

17

“ThisistheFather’srealmoftheFive.Itis:

thefirstHumanity,theimageofthe

invisibleSpirit,thatis,Forethought,

Barbelo,Thought,alongwith

Foreknowledge,

Imperishability,

LifeEternal,

andTruth.

18

ThisistheandrogynousrealmoftheFive,thisistherealmoftheTen,thisistheFather.

Chapter4

1

“TheFatherenteredBarbelowithagaze,withthepure,shininglightsurroundingthe

invisibleSpirit.

2

Barbeloconceived,andtheFatherproducedarayoflightthatwassimilartotheblessed

lightbutnot

3

asbright.ThisrayoflightwastheonlyChildofthecommonParentthathadcomeforth,

andtheonlyoffspringandtheonlyChildoftheFather,thepurelight.

4

“TheinvisiblevirginSpiritrejoicedoverthelightthatwasproduced,thatcameforth

firstfromthefirst

5

power,Forethought,orBarbelo.TheFatheranointeditwithgoodnessuntilitwas

perfectlyandcompletelygood,fortheFatheranointeditwiththegoodnessofthe

invisibleSpirit.TheChildstoodinthepresence

6

oftheFatherduringtheanointing.WhentheChildreceivedthisfromtheSpirit,atonce

itglorifiedtheholySpiritandtheperfectForethought,forithadcomeforththroughher.

7

“TheChildaskedtobegivenMindasacompaniontoworkwith,andtheinvisible

Spiritagreed.

8

WhentheSpiritagreed,Mindappeared,andstoodbyChrist,andglorifiedChristand

Barbelo.

9

“Allthesebeings,however,cameintoexistenceinsilence.

10

“MindwishedtocreatesomethingbymeansofthewordoftheinvisibleSpirit.ItsWill

becamearealityandappearedwithMind,whilethelight

11

glorifiedit.WordfollowedWill.ForChrist,theself-producedGod,createdeverythingby

theword.

12

LifeEternal,Will,Mind,andForeknowledgestoodtogetherandglorifiedtheinvisible

SpiritandBarbelo,fortheyhadcomeintobeingthroughher.

13

“TheholySpiritbroughttheself-produceddivine

14

ChildoftheSpiritandBarbelotoperfection.ThentheChildcouldstandbeforethe

powerfulandinvisiblevirginSpiritastheself-producedGod,Christ,whomtheSpirithad

honoredwithloudacclaim.

15

ThisChildcameforththroughForethought.TheinvisiblevirginSpiritsetthistrue,self-

producedGodovereverything,andcausedallauthorityandthe

16

truthwithintobesubjecttohim.ThentheChildcouldunderstandtheuniversethatis

calledbyanamegreaterthaneveryname,forthatnamewillbetoldonlytothosewho

areworthyofit.

Chapter5

1

“Now

fromthelight,Christ,

andfromImperishability,

bythegraceoftheSpirit,

camethefourstarsthatderivefromtheself-produced

God.Hegazedabout,andmadethestarsstandbefor

2

him.Thethreebeingspresentare:

Will,

Thought,

andLife.

Thefourpowersare:

Understanding,

Grace,

Perception,

andThoughtfulness.

3

“GracedwellsintheeternalrealmofthestarArmozel,whoisthefirstangel.These

threerealmsarealsothere:

Grace,

Truth,

andForm.

4

“ThesecondstarisOroiel,andhasbeenappointedoverthesecondeternalrealm.

Thesethreerealmsarealsothere:

Afterthought,

Perception,

andMemory.

5

“ThethirdstarisDaveithai,andhasbeenappointedoverthethirdeternalrealm.

Thesethreerealmsarealsothere:

Understanding,

Love,

andIdea.

6

“Thefourtheternalrealmhasbeensetupforthefourthstar,Eleleth.Thesethree

realmsarealsothere:

Perfection,

Peace,

andSophia.

7

“Thesearethefourstarsthatstandbeforetheself-producedGod,andthetwelve

eternalrealmsthatstandbeforethegreatself-producedChild,Christ,

8

bythewillandgraceoftheinvisibleSpirit.Thetwelverealmsbelongtotheself-

producedChild,andthuseverythingwasestablishedbythewilloftheholySpiritthrough

theself-producedone.

9

“Again,

fromtheForeknowledgeoftheperfectMind,

throughtheexpressedwilloftheinvisibleSpirit

andthewilloftheself-producedone,

cametheperfecthuman,thefirstrevelation,the

10

truth.ThevirginSpiritnamedthehumanPigeradamas,andappointedPigeradamastothe

firsteternalrealmofthegreatself-producedone,Christ,along

11

withthefirststar,Armozel.Thepowersarethere,too.TheInvisibleOnealsogave

Pigeradamasanunconquerablepowerofmind.

12

“PigeradamasglorifiedandpraisedtheinvisibleSpiritbysaying,

‘Everythinghascomeintobeingthroughyou,

andeverythingwillreturntoyou.

13

Ishallpraiseandglorifyyou,

andtheself-producedone,

andtheeternalrealms,

andthethree,

Father,

Mother,

Child,

andperfectpower.’

14

“Pigeradamasappointedason,Seth,tothesecondeternalrealm,alongwiththesecond

star,Oroiel.

15

“InthethirdeternalrealmwasstationedthefamilyofSeth,withthethirdstar,

Daveithai.Thesoulsofthesaintswerestationedthere.

16

“Inthefourtheternalrealmwerestationedthesoulsofthosewhowereignorantofthe

divineFullness.Theydidnotrepentimmediately,butcontinuedtobeignorantforawhile

andthenrepented

17

later.Theyarewiththefourthstar,Eleleth,andarecreaturesthatglorifytheinvisible

Spirit.

Chapter6

1

“NowSophia,whoistheWisdomofAfterthoughtandwhorepresentsaneternal

realm,conceivedofathought.Shehadthisideaherself,andtheinvisible

2

SpiritandForeknowledgealsoreflecteduponit.Shewantedtogivebirthtoabeinglike

herself

withoutthepermissionoftheSpirit(theSpirithadnotgivenapproval),

withoutherlover,

andwithouthisconsideration.

3

Herpartnerdidnotgivehisapproval;shedidnotfindanyonewhoagreedwithher;

andsheconsideredthismatterwithouttheSpirit’spermissionorany

4

knowledgeofwhatshehaddecided.Nonetheless,shebroughtforthachild.Andbecause

oftheunconquerablepowerwithinher,herthoughtwasnot

5

anidlethought.Rather,somethingcameoutofherthatwasimperfectanddifferentin

appearancefromher,forshehadproduceditwithoutherlover.Itdidnotlooklikeits

Mother,andhadadifferentshape.

6

“WhenSophiasawwhatherdesirehadproduced,itchangedintothefigureofasnake

withthefaceofalion.Itseyeswerelikeflashingboltsoflightning.

7

Shethrewitawayfromher,outsidethatrealm,sothatnoneoftheImmortalswouldsee

it.Forshehadproduceditignorantly.

8

“Shesurroundeditwithabrightcloud,andputathroneinthemiddleofthecloud,so

thatnoonewouldseeitexcepttheholySpirit,whoiscalledthe

9

MotheroftheLiving.ShenamedherchildYaldabaoth.

Chapter7

1

“Yaldabaothisthefirstruler,whotookgreatpowerfromhisMother.Thenhelefther

andmoved

2

awayfromtherealmswherehewasborn.Hewasstrong,andcreatedforhimselfother

realmsbymeans

3

ofabrightflameoffirethatstillexists.HematedwiththeMindlessnessthatisinhim,

andproducedhisownauthorities:

4

ThenameofthefirstisAthoth,whomgenerationsofhumanbeingscall…

ThesecondisHarmas,whoisthejealouseye.

ThethirdisKalila-Oumbri.

5

ThefourthisYabel.

ThefifthisAdonaios,whoiscalledSabaoth.

ThesixthisCain,whomgenerationsofhumanbeingscallthesun.

6

TheseventhisAbel.

TheeighthisAbrisene.

TheninthisYobel.

7

ThetenthisArmoupiael.

TheeleventhisMelcheir-Adonein.

ThetwelfthisBelias,whoisoverthedepthsoftheunderworld.

8

“Yaldabaothstationedsevenkings(oneforeachsphereofheaven)toreignover

thesevenheavens,

9

andfivetoreignoverthedepthsofhell.Hesharedhisfirewiththem,butdidnotgive

awayanyofthepowerofthelightthathehadtakenfromhisMother.Forheisabeingof

ignorantdarkness.

10

“Whenthelightmixedwiththedarkness,itmadethedarknessbrighter.Whenthe

darknessmixed

11

withthelight,itdimmedthelight.Theresultwasneitherlightnordarkness,butrather

gloom.

12

“Thisgloomyrulerhasthreenames:

ThefirstnameisYaldabaoth.

ThesecondisSaklas.

ThethirdisSamael.

13

HeiswickedbecauseoftheMindlessnessthatisinhim.Forhesaid,

‘IamGod,

andthereisnootherGodbesidesme,’

sincehedidnotknowfromwherehisownstrengthhadcome.

14

“Therulerscreatedforthemselvessevenpowers.Thepowersinturncreatedfor

themselvessixangelsapiece,untiltherewerethreehundredsixty-five

15

angels.Thesearethenamesofthepotentatesandtheircorrespondingphysiques:

16

ThefirstisAthoth,andhasthefaceofasheep.

ThesecondisEloaios,andhasthefaceofadonkey.

ThethirdisAstaphaios,andhasthefaceofahyena.

17

ThefourthisYao,andhasthefaceofasnakewithsevenheads.

ThefifthisSabaoth,andhasthefaceofadragon.

ThesixthisAdonin,andhasthefaceofanape.

18

TheseventhisSabbataios,andhasafaceof

flamingfire.

Thisexplainsthesevendaysoftheweek.

19

“Yaldabaothhadmanyfacesinadditiontoallofthese,sothathecouldshowwhatever

facehewanted

20

whenhewasamongtheangels.Hesharedhisfirewiththem,andlordeditoverthem

becauseofthegloriouspowerhehadfromhisMother’slight.Thatiswhyhecalled

himselfGod,anddisregardedtherealmfromwhichhecame.

21

“Heunitedsevenofhispowersofthoughtwiththeauthoritiesthatwerewithhim.

Whenhespoke,itwasdone.Henamedeachofhispowers,beginningwiththehighest:

22

ThefirstpowerisGoodness,andiswiththefirstauthority,Athoth.

ThesecondpowerisForethought,andiswiththesecondauthority,Eloaios.

ThethirdpowerisDivinity,andiswiththethirdauthority,Astaphaios.

23

ThefourthpowerisLordship,andiswiththefourthauthority,Yao.

ThefifthpowerisKingdom,andiswiththefifthauthority,Sabaoth.

ThesixthpowerisJealousy,andiswiththesixthauthority,Adonin.

24

TheseventhpowerisUnderstanding,andiswiththeseventhauthority,

Sabbataios.

Thesebeingshavespheresintheheavenlyrealms.

25

“Thepowersweregivennamesfromthegloryabove,butthesenamescoulddestroy

thepowers.

26

Forwhilethenamesgiventhembytheircreatorwerepowerful,thenamesgiventhem

fromthegloryabovecouldbringabouttheirdestructionandlossofpower.Thatiswhy

theyhavetwonames.

27

“Yaldabaothorganizedeverythingafterthepatternofthefirsteternalrealmsthathad

comeintobeing,forhewishedtocreatebeingsthatarelikethe

28

ImperishableOnes.NotthathehadseentheImperishableOnes.Rather,thepowerthatis

inhim,thathehadtakenfromhisMother,producedthepatternfortheworldorder.

29

“Whenhesawcreationallaround,andthethrongofangelsaroundhimthathadcome

forthfromhim,hesaidtothem,

‘IamajealousGod,

andthereisnootherGodbesidesme.’

30

Butbymakingthisannouncement,hesuggestedtotheangelswithhimthatthereis

anotherGod.ForiftherewerenootherGod,ofwhomwouldhebejealous?

Chapter8

1

“ThentheMotherbegantomovearound.Sherealizedthatshewaslackingsomething

whenthebrightnessofherlightdiminished.Shegrewdimbecauseherloverhadnot

collaboratedwithher.”

2

Isaid,“Lord,whatdoesitmeanthatshemovedaround?”

3

TheLordlaughedandsaid,“DonotsupposethatithappenedthewayMosessaid,

‘abovethewaters.’No,whensherecognizedthewickednessthathadtakenplace,andthe

robberyhersonhadcommitted,

4

sherepented.Thoughshehadbecomeforgetfulinthedarknessofherignorance,she

begantobeashamedandagitated.Thisagitationisthemovingaround.

5

“TheArrogantOnetookpowerfromhisMother.Hewasignorant,forhethoughtthat

nootherpowerexistedexcepthisMother.Hesawthethrongofangelshehadcreated,

andexaltedhimselfoverthem.

6

“WhentheMotherrealizedthatthisdarkshadowhadcomeintobeingimperfectly,she

understoodthatherloverhadnotcollaboratedwithher.Sherepented

7

withmanytears.ThewholerealmofFullnessoftheinvisiblevirginSpiritheardher

prayerofrepentanceandofferedpraiseforher,andtheholySpiritpoured

8

someofthisFullnessuponher.Forherloverhadnotcometoherbefore,butnowhedid

cometoher,downthroughtherealmofFullness,sothathemight

9

restorewhatshelacked.Shewastakenupnottoherowneternalrealm,butinsteadtoa

positionjustaboveherson.Shewastoremaininthisninthheavenuntilsherestored

whatwaslackinginher.

10

“Avoicecalledfromtheexaltedheavenlyrealm,

‘Humanityexists,

andtheChildofHumanity!’

11

“Thefirstruler,Yaldabaoth,heardthevoiceandthoughtthatithadcomefromhis

Mother.Hedidnotrealizeitssource.

12

ItwasfromtheholyParent,

thecompletelyperfectForethought,

theimageoftheInvisibleOne,thatis,theFatherofeverything,through

whomeverythingcameintobeing,

thefirstHumanity.

13

Shetaughtthesethings,andrevealedherselfinhumanshape.

14

“Theentirerealmofthefirstrulerquaked,andthefoundationsofhellshook.The

bottomsideofthewatersabovethematerialworldwaslitupbythe

15

imagethathadappeared.Whenalltheauthoritiesandthefirstrulerstaredatthis

appearance,theysawthewholebottomsideasitwaslitup.Andthroughthelightthey

sawtheshapeoftheimageinthewater.

Chapter9

1

“Yaldabaothsaidtotheauthoritieswithhim,‘Come,letuscreateahumanbeingafter

theimageofGodandwithalikenesstoourselves,sothatthishumanimagemaygiveus

light.’

2

“Theycreatedwiththeirpowers,andcopiedthefeaturesthathadappeared.Eachof

theauthoritiescontributedapsychicalfeaturecorrespondingtothe

3

figureoftheimagetheyhadseen.TheycreatedabeingliketheperfectfirstHumanity,

andsaid,‘LetuscallitAdam,thatitsnamemaygiveuspoweroflight.’

4

“Thepowersbegantocreate:

Thefirstpower,Goodness,createdasoulofbone.

Thesecond,Forethought,createdasoulofsinew.

Thethird,Divinity,createdasoulofflesh.

5

Thefourth,Lordship,createdasoulofmarrow.

Thefifth,Kingdom,createdasoulofblood.

Thesixth,Jealousy,createdasoulofskin.

Theseventh,Understanding,createdasoulofeyelid.

6

“Thethrongofangelsstoodbyandreceivedthesesevenpsychicalsubstancesfromthe

authorities.Thentheycouldcreateanetworkoflimbsand

7

trunk,withallthepartsproperlyarranged.Thefirstangelbeganbycreatingthehead:

Eteraphaope-Abroncreatedthehead,

Meniggesstroethcreatedthebrain,

Asterechmetherighteye,

Thaspomochathelefteye,

Yeronumostherightear,

Bissoumtheleftear,

8

Akioreimthenose,

Banen-Ephroumthelips,

Amentheteeth,

Ibikanthemolars,

Basiliademethetonsils,

Achchantheuvula,

9

Adabantheneck,

Chaamanthevertebrae,

Dearchothethroat,

Tebartherightshoulder,

…theleftshoulder,

Mniarchontherightelbow,

…theleftelbow,

10

Abitriontherightpalm,

Euanthentheleftpalm,

Krustherighthand,

Beluaithelefthand,

Treneuthefingersoftherighthand,

Balbelthefingersofthelefthand,

Krimathefingernails,

11

Astropstherightbreast,

Barrophtheleftbreast,

Baoumtherightarmpit,

Ararimtheleftarmpit,

Arechethebelly,

Phthauethenavel,

Senaphimtheabdomen,

12

Arachethopitherightribs,

Zabedotheleftribs,

Bariastherighthip,

Phnouththelefthip,

Abenlenarcheithemarrow,

Chnoumeninorinthebones,

13

Gesolethestomach,

Agromaumatheheart,

Banothelungs,

Sostrapaltheliver,

Anesimalarthespleen,

Thopithrotheintestines,

Biblothekidneys,

14

Roerorthesinews,

Taphreotheback,

Ipouspobobatheveins,

Bineborinthearteries,

Atoimenpsepheithebreathinallthelimbs,

Entholleinalltheflesh,

15

Bedoukthevaginaontheright,

Arabeeithepenisontheleft,

Eilothetesticles,

Sormathegenitals,

Gormakaiochlabartherightthigh,

Nebriththeleftthigh,

16

Pseremthemusclesoftherightleg,

Asaklasthemuscleontheleft,

Ormaoththerightleg,

Emenuntheleftleg,

Knuxtherightshin,

Tupelontheleftshin,

17

Achieltherightknee,

Phnemetheleftknee,

Phiouthromtherightfoot,

Boabelitstoes,

Trachountheleftfoot,

Phiknaitstoes,

Miamaithetoenails,

Labernioum…

18

“Theangelsappointedoverallthesepartsofthepsychicalbodyare:

Athoth,

Harmas,

Kalila,

Yabel,

Sabaoth,

Cain,

Abel.

19

“Otherangelsworkinthelimbs:

inthehead:Diolimodraza,

intheneck:Yammeax,

intherightshoulder:Yakouib,

intheleftshoulder:Ouerton,

intherighthand:Oudidi,

intheleftone:Arbao,

20

inthefingersoftherighthand:Lampno,

inthefingersofthelefthand:Leekaphar,

intherightbreast:Barbar,

intheleftbreast:Imae,

inthechest:Pisandraptes,

intherightarmpit:Koade,

intheleftarmpit:Odeor,

21

intherightribs:Asphixix,

intheleftribs:Sunogchouta,

inthebelly:Arouph,

inthewomb:Sabalo,

intherightthigh:Charcharb,

intheleftthigh:Chthaon,

inallthegenitals:Bathinoth,

22

intherightleg:Choux,

intheleftleg:Charcha,

intherightshin:Aroer,

intheleftshin:Toechea,

intherightknee:Aol,

intheleftknee:Charaner,

23

intherightfoot:Bastan,

initstoes:Archentechtha,

intheleftfoot:Marephnounth,

initstoes:Abrana.

24

“Sevenangelsruledoverall:

Michael,

Uriel,

Asmenedas,

Saphasatoel,

Aarmouriam,

Richram,

Amiorps.

25

“Otherangelsrule:

overthesenses:Archendekta,

overassimilation:Deitharbathas,

overimagination:Oummaa,

overarrangement:Aachiaram,

overthewholeimpulse:Riaramnacho.

26

“Thefoursourcesofthedemonsthatareintheentirebodyareappointed:

heat,

cold,

wetness,

dryness,

andthemotherofthemallismatter.

27

TheonewhoislordoverheatisPhloxopha,

theonewhoislordovercoldisOroorrothos,

theonewhoislordoverwhatisdryisErimacho,

theonewhoislordoverwetnessisAthuro.

28

ThemotherestablishesamongthemOnorthochras,forsheisunlimitedandmingleswith

themall.Indeed,sheismatter,forthroughherthedemonsarenourished.

29

“Thefourprincipaldemonsare:

Ephememphi,theoneofpleasure,

Yoko,theoneofdesire,

Nenentophni,theoneofgrief,

Blaomen,theoneoffear.

ThemotherofthemallisSensation-Ouchepiptoe.

30

“Fromthesefourdemonshavecomepassions:

Fromgriefcomejealousy,envy,pain,trouble,distress,hardheartedness,

anxiety,sorrow,andsoforth.

31

Frompleasurecomemuchevil,vainconceit,andthelike.

32

Fromdesirecomeanger,wrath,bitterness,intenselust,greed,andthelike.

33

Fromfearcometerror,servility,anguish,andshame.

34

Allofthesepassionsresemblewhatisvaluableaswellaswhatisbad.Anaro,theheadof

thematerialsoul,understandstheirtruenature,forshedwellswithSensation-

Ouchepiptoe.

35

“Thisisthenumberofangels:inalltheynumberthreehundredsixty-five.Theyall

workedtogetheruntiltheycompletedeachlimbofthepsychicaland

36

materialbody.Thereareotherangelsovertheremainingpassions,andIhavenottold

youaboutthem.Ifyouwanttoknowaboutthem,theinformationisrecordedintheBook

ofZoroaster.

Chapter10

1

“Alltheangelsanddemonsworkedtogetheruntiltheyfashionedthepsychicalbody.

Butforalongtimetheircreationdidnotstirormoveatall.

2

“WhentheMotherwantedtotakebackthepowershehadrelinquishedtothefirst

ruler,sheprayed

3

tothemostmercifulParentofall.WithasacredcommandtheParentsentfivestars

downtotherealm

4

oftheangelsofthefirstruler.Theyadvisedhimwiththispurposeinmind,thatthey

mightrecovertheMother’spower.

5

“TheysaidtoYaldabaoth,‘BreathesomeofyourspiritintothefaceofAdam,andthen

thebodywillarise.’

6

“HebreathedhisspiritintoAdam.ThespiritisthepowerofhisMother,buthedidnot

realizethis,

7

becausehelivesinignorance.ThustheMother’spowerwentoutofYaldabaoth,andinto

thepsychicalbodythathadbeenmadetobeliketheOnewhoisfromthebeginning.

8

“Thebodymoved,andbecamepowerful.Anditwasenlightened.

9

“Atoncetherestofthepowersbecamejealous.AlthoughAdamhadcomeintobeing

throughallofthem,andtheyhadgiventheirpowertothishuman,yetAdamwasmore

intelligentthanthecreatorsand

10

thefirstruler.WhentheyrealizedthatAdamwasenlightened,andcouldthinkmore

clearlythanthey,andwasfreeofevil,theytookandthrewAdamintothelowestpartof

thewholematerialrealm.

11

“Theblessed,benevolent,mercifulParenthadcompassionfortheMother’spowerthat

hadbeenremovedfromthefirstruler,fortherulersmightbeabletooverpowerthe

psychical,sensiblebodyonce

12

again.WithabenevolentspiritandgreatmercytheParentsentahelpertoAdam,an

enlightenedAfter-thought

13

fromtheParent,whowascalledLife.Sheworkedwithallthatwascreated,

laboringwithit,

restoringittofullness,

teachingaboutthedescentoftheseedoflight,

teachingthatthewayofascentisthesameasthewayofdescent.

14

“EnlightenedAfterthoughtwashiddenwithinAdamsothattherulerswouldnot

recognizeher.ThenAfterthoughtwouldbeabletorestorewhattheMotherlacked.

Chapter11

1

“ThehumanbeingAdamwasrevealedthroughthebrightshadowwithin.AndAdam’s

abilityto

2

thinkwasgreaterthanthatofallthecreators.Whentheylookedup,theysawthat

Adam’sabilitytothinkwasgreaterthantheirs,sotheydevisedaplanwith

3

thewholethrongofrulersandangels.Theytook

fire,

earth,

andwater,

andcombinedthemwiththefourfierywinds.Theypoundedthemtogether,andmadea

greatcommotion.

4

“TherulersbroughtAdamintotheshadowofdeathsothattheymightproducea

figureagain,butnowfrom

earth,

water,

fire,

andthespiritthatcomesfrommatter,

thatis,fromtheignoranceofdarkness,anddesire,

5

andtheirowncontraryspirit.Thisfigureisthetomb,thenewlycreatedbodythatthese

criminalsputon

6

thehumanasafetterofforgetfulness.ThusAdambecameamortalhumanbeing,the

firsttodescendandbecomeestranged.

7

“TheenlightenedAfterthoughtwithinAdam,however,wouldrejuvenateAdam’smind.

8

“TherulerstookAdam,andputAdaminParadise.Theysaid,‘Eat,andbemerry!’But

theirpleasureisbitterandtheirbeautyisperverse.

9

Theirpleasureisatrap,

theirtreesareevil,

theirfruitisdeadlypoison,

theirpromiseisdeath.

10

TheyputtheirTreeofLifeinthemiddleofParadise.

11

“IshallteachyouthesecretoftheirLifeasitrelatestotheplantheydevisedandthe

natureoftheirspirit:

12

therootoftheirTreeisbitter,

itsbranchesaredeath,

itsshadowishatred,

atrapisinitsleaves,

itsblossomisbadointment,

itsfruitisdeath,

desireisitsseed,

anditsproutsindarkness.

13

ThedwellingplaceofthosewhotasteofthisTreeistheunderworld,

anddarknessistheirrestingplace.

14

“ButtherulersstoodinfrontofwhattheycalltheTreeoftheKnowledgeofGoodand

Evil,whichis

15

actuallytheenlightenedAfterthought.TheystayedtheresothatAdamwouldnotbehold

itsfullnessandthusdiscoverAdam’sownshamefulnakedness.

16

“Iwastheone,though,whocausedthemtoeat.”

17

IsaidtotheSavior,“Lord,wasitnotthesnakethatinstructedAdamtoeat?”

18

TheSaviorlaughedandsaid,“Thesnakeinstructedthemtoeatofwickedness,

pregnancy,lust,anddestructionsothatAdamwouldbeofusetothe

19

snake.Adamknewaboutthedisobedienceagainstthefirstrulerbecausetheenlightened

AfterthoughtwithinAdamrestoredAdam’smindtobegreater

20

thanthatofthefirstruler.Thefirstruler,inturn,wantedtorecoverthepowerthathe

himselfhadpassedontoAdam.SohebroughtforgetfulnessuponAdam.”

21

IsaidtotheSavior,“Whatisthisforgetfulness?”

22

TheSaviorsaid,“ItisnotasMoseswroteandyouheard.Forhesaidinhisfirstbook,

‘HecausedAdamtofallasleep.’Rather,thisforgetfulnessmadeAdam

23

loseallsense.Thusthefirstrulersaidthroughtheprophet,

‘Ishallmaketheirmindssluggish,

thattheymayneitherunderstandnordiscern.’

Chapter12

1

“ThenenlightenedAfterthoughthidherselfwithinAdam.Thefirstrulerwantedto

takeherfromAdam’sside,butenlightenedAfterthoughtcannotbeapprehended.

2

Whiledarknesspursuedher,itdidnotapprehendher.Thefirstrulertookoutpartof

Adam’spower,andcreatedanotherfigureintheformofa

3

female,liketheAfterthoughtthathadappeared.Hebroughtforththepowerthathehad

transferredfrom

4

theoriginalhumanbeingtothisfemalecreature.Itdidnothappen,however,theway

Mosessaid:‘Adam’srib.’

5

“Adamsawthewomanbesidehim.AtonceenlightenedAfterthoughtappeared,and

removedthe

6

veilthatcoveredhismind.Thedrunkennessofdarknesslefthim.Herecognizedthis

beingthatwaslikehim,andsaid,

‘Thisisnowbonefrommybones

andfleshfrommyflesh!’

7

Forthisreasonamanwillleavehisfatherandhismother,andwilljoinhimselftohis

wife,andthe

8

twoofthemwillbecomeoneflesh.Forhewillbesentalover,andhewillleavehis

fatherandhismother.

9

“OursisterSophiaistheonewhodescended,inaninnocentmanner,torestorewhat

shelacked.ForthisreasonshewascalledLife,thatis,theMother

10

oftheLiving.ThroughsovereignForethoughtandthroughherhavetheLivingtasted

perfectknowledge.

11

“Asforme,IappearedintheformofaneagleupontheTreeofKnowledge,thatis

actuallytheAfterthoughtofthepure,enlightenedForethought.

12

Ididthistoteachthehumanbeings,andtoawaken

13

themfromdeepsleep.Forthetwoofthemwere

14

fallen,andrealizedthattheywerenaked.Afterthought,too,appearedtothemaslight,

andawakenedtheirminds.

Chapter13

1

“WhenYaldabaothrealizedthatthehumanshadrejectedhim,hecursedhisearth.He

foundthewomanasshewaspreparingforherhusband,who

2

waslordoverher.Hedidnotknowthemysterythathadcomeintobeingthroughthe

sacredcommand.

3

ThetwohumanswereafraidtodenounceYaldabaoth,buthedisplayedhisown

ignorancetohis

4

angels.HethrewthehumansoutofParadise,andcloakedtheminthickdarkness.

5

“ThefirstrulersawtheyoungwomanstandingnexttoAdam,andnoticedthatthe

enlightenedAfterthoughtoflifehadappearedinher.YetYaldabaoth

6

wasfullofignorance.SowhentheForethoughtofallrealizedwhatwashappening,she

dispatchedemissaries,andtheystoleLifeoutofEve.

7

“ThefirstrulerrapedEve,andproducedinhertwosons,afirstandasecond:Elohim

andYahweh.

8

Elohimhasthefaceofabear,

Yahwehhasthefaceofacat.

9

Oneisjust,

theotherisunjust.

10

HeplacedYahwehoverthefireandthewind,

andheplacedElohimoverthewaterandtheearth.

11

HecalledthembythenamesCainandAbel,forhemeanttodeceive.

12

“Tothisdaycopulationhaspersistedbecauseofthefirstruler.Heplantedthelustfor

reproduction

13

withinthewomanwhowaswithAdam.Throughcopulationthefirstrulerproduced

duplicatebodies,andhebreathedsomeofhiscontraryspiritintothem.

14

“Heplacedthesetworulersovertheelements,thattheymightruleoverthebodily

tomb.

15

“WhenAdamcametoknowwhathisownforeknowledgewaslike,heproducedason

liketheChildofHumanity.HecalledhimSeth,afterthechildin

16

theeternalrealms.Similarly,theMothersentdownherSpirit,whichislikeherandisa

copyofwhatisintherealmofFullness,forshewasabouttoprepareadwellingplacefor

themembersoftheeternalrealmswhowouldcomedown.

17

“Thehumanbeingsweremadetodrinkwaterofforgetfulnessbythefirstrulersothat

theywouldnotknowfromwheretheyhadcome.Forawhile

18

theseedoflightwascooperative.Yeteverythinghappenedwithapurpose,

thatwhentheSpiritcomesdownfromtheholyrealms,

theSpiritmayraiseuptheseedoflight,

andhealitofwhatitlacks,

thattheentirerealmofFullnessmaybeholyandlackinginnothing.”

Chapter14

1

IsaidtotheSavior,“Lord,willallthesoulsbeledsafelyintopurelight?”

2

Heansweredandsaidtome,“Thesearegreatmattersthathaveariseninyourmind,

anditisdifficulttoexplainthemtoanyoneexceptthoseoftheunshakablerace.

3

ThoseuponwhomtheSpiritofLifewilldescend,

andwhomtheSpiritwillempower,

willbesaved,

andwillbecomeperfect,

worthyofgreatness,

andfreeofallevilandinterestinwickedness,

inthatrealm.

4

Theyareinterestedonlyintheimperishable,andtheyarealwaysconcernedwiththat,

withoutanger,

jealousy,

envy,

desire,

oranygreed.

5

Theyareaffectedonlybytheirexistenceintheflesh,andevenastheyweartheflesh

theylookforwardtothetimewhentheywillbemetbythosewhoreceive

6

them.Suchpeopleareworthyoftheimperishable,eternallifeandcalling.Forthey

endureeverythingandbeareverythingsoastofinishthecontestandobtaineternallife.”

7

Isaidtohim,“Lord,whataboutthesoulsofpeoplewhohavenotlivedinthisway,

butuponwhomthepowerandtheSpiritofLifehavedescendednonetheless?Whatwill

happentothem?”

8

Heansweredandsaidtome,“IftheSpiritdescendsuponthem,theymostcertainly

willbesaved,

9

andtransformed.Powermustdescenduponevery

10

person,forwithoutitnoonecouldstand.Afterbirth,iftheSpiritofLifegrows,and

powercomesandstrengthensthesoul,noonewillbeabletoleadthis

11

soulastraywithevilactions.Butpeopleuponwhomthecontraryspiritdescendsare

misledbythisspirit,andlosetheirway.”

12

Isaid,“Lord,wherewillthesoulsofthesepeoplegowhentheyleavetheflesh?”

13

Helaughedandsaidtome,“Thesoulthathasmorepowerthanthecontemptiblespirit

isstrong.Sheescapesfromevil,andthroughtheinterventionoftheImperishableOne,she

issavedandistakenuptoeternalrest.”

14

Isaid,“Lord,wherewillthesoulsgoofpeoplewhodonotknowtowhomthey

belong?”

15

Hesaidtome,“Thecontemptiblespiritgrowsstrongerinsuchpeopleastheylosetheir

way.Thisspiritlaysaheavyburdenonthesoul,leadsherintoevilactions,andhurlsher

downintoforgetfulness.

16

Afterthesoulleavesthebody,sheishandedovertotheauthoritieswhohavecomeinto

beingthrough

17

thefirstruler.Theybindherwithchains,throwherintoprison,andabuseher,until

finallysheemergesfromforgetfulnessandacquiresknowledge.Thisishowsheattains

perfectionandissaved.”

18

Isaid,“Lord,howcanthesoulbecomeyouthfulagain,andreturnintoherMother’s

womb,orintoHumanity?”

19

HewasgladwhenIaskedaboutthis,andhesaidtome,

“Trulyblessedareyou,foryouunderstand.

20

ThissoulneedstofollowanothersoulinwhomtheSpiritofLifedwells,becausesheis

savedthroughtheSpirit.Thenshewillneverbethrustintofleshagain.”

21

Isaid,“Lord,wherewillthesoulsgoofpeoplewhooncehadknowledge,butthen

turnedaway?”

22

Hesaidtome,“Theywillbetakentotheplacewherethemiserableangelsgo,where

thereisnorepentance.Theywillbekeptthereuntilthedaywhenthosewhohave

blasphemedagainsttheSpiritwillbetried,andpunishedeternally.”

Chapter15

1

Isaid,“Lord,wheredidthecontemptiblespiritcomefrom?”

2

Hesaidtome,“ThecommonParentisgreatinmercy,

theuniversal,holySpirit,

theonewhoiscompassionate

andwholaborswithyou—

thatis,theAfterthoughtofenlightenedForethought.

3

TheParentraiseduptheoffspringoftheperfecthumangeneration,withthethought

andtheeternal

4

lightofHumanity.Whenthefirstrulerrealizedthatthesepeoplewereexaltedabovehim

andcouldthinkbetterthanhe,hewantedtograsptheir

5

thought.Hedidnotknowthattheysurpassedhiminthought,sothathewouldbeunable

tograspthem.

6

“Hedevisedaplanwithhisauthorities,whoarehispowers.Togethertheyraped

Sophia,andproducedsomethingrepulsive:Fate,thefinal,ficklebondage.Fateislikethis

becausethepowersthemselves

7

arefickle.TothepresentdayFateistougherandstrongerthananythingelsethatgods,

angels,demons,andallthegenerationsofhumanbeings

8

mayconfront.ForfromFatehavecome

alliniquity,

injustice,

andblasphemy,

thebondageofforgetfulness,

andignorance,

andallburdensomeorders,

weightysins,

andgreatfears.

9

Thusallofcreationhasbeenblindedsothatnone

10

mightknowtheGodthatisoverthemall.Becauseofthebondageofforgetfulness,their

sinshavebeenhidden.Theyhavebeenboundwithdimensions,times,andseasons,and

Fateislordofall.

11

“Thefirstrulerregrettedeverythingthathadcomeintobeingthroughhim.Onceagain

hemadeaplan,anddecidedtobringaflooduponthehumanworld.

12

TheenlightenedgreatnessofForethought,however,warnedNoah.Heinturnannounced

thistotheentirehumanfamily,thechildrenofhumanity,but

13

thosewhowerestrangersdidnotlistentohim.ItdidnothappenthewayMosessaid,

‘Theyhidinan

14

ark.’Rather,theyhidinacertainplace,notonlyNoah,butalsomanyotherpeoplefrom

theunshakablerace.Theyenteredthatplaceandhidinabright

15

cloud.Noahknewabouthissupremacy:withhimwastheenlightenedonewhohad

enlightenedthem,sincethefirstrulerhadbroughtdarknessuponthewholeearth.

16

“Thefirstrulerformulatedaplanwithhispowers.Hesenthisangelstothedaughters

ofhumanity,thattheymighttakewomenandraiseafamilyfor

17

theirpleasure.Atfirsttheywereunsuccessful.Whentheyhadproventobeunsuccessful,

theymetagain

18

anddevisedanotherplan.TheycreatedacontemptiblespiritsimilartotheSpiritthathad

descended,

19

inordertoadulteratesoulsthroughthisspirit.Theangelsthenchangedtheirappearance

tolooklikethepartnersofthesewomen,andfilledthewomenwiththespiritofdarkness

thattheyhadconcocted,

20

andwithevil.Theybrought

gold,

silver,

presents,

copper,

iron,

metal,

andallsortsofthings.

21

Theymadethepeoplewhofollowedthemsuffer,

22

leadingthemastrayanddeceivingthem.Thesepeoplegrewoldwithoutexperiencing

pleasure,anddiedwithoutfindingtruthorknowingtheGodoftruth.

23

Inthiswayallofcreationwasforeverenslaved,fromthebeginningoftheworlduntil

now.

24

“Theangelstookwomen,andfromthedarkness

25

theyproducedchildrensimilartotheirspirit.Theyclosedtheirminds,andbecame

stubbornthroughthestubbornnessofthecontemptiblespirit,untilthepresentday.

Chapter16

1

“NowIamtheperfectForethoughtofall.Itransformedmyselfintomyoffspring:I

cameintobeingfirst,andwentdownallthepathsoflife.

2

ForIamtheabundanceoflight.Iamtheremembranceoffullness.

3

“Iwentintotherealmofgreatdarkness,andcontinued

4

untilIenteredthemiddleoftheprison.Thefoundationsofchaosshook,andIhidfrom

theinhabitantsofchaos,fortheyareevil.Sotheydidnotrecognizeme.

5

“AsecondtimeIreturned,andwenton.Ihadcomefromtheinhabitantsoflight:

IamtheremembranceofForethought.

6

Ienteredthemiddleofdarknessandthecenteroftheunderworld,andturnedtothe

taskbeforeme.

7

Thefoundationsofchaosshook,andwereabouttofalluponthosewhodwellinchaos,

anddestroy

8

them.Ihurriedbacktotherootofmylight,thattheinhabitantsofchaosmightnotbe

prematurelydestroyed.

9

“Yetagain,athirdtime,Iwentforth:

Iamthelightthatdwellsinlight.

IamtheremembranceofForethought.

10

Iintendedtoenterthemiddleofdarknessandthecenteroftheunderworld.Ibrightened

myfacewithlightfromtheconsummationofthisworld,andenteredthemiddleofthis

prison,theprisonofthebody.

11

“Isaid,‘Letwhoeverhearsarisefromdeepsleep.’

12

“Asleeperweptandshedbittertears.Wipingthemaway,thesleepersaid,‘Whois

callingmyname?Whatisthesourceofthishopethathascometome,dwellinginthe

bondageofprison?’

13

“Isaid,

‘IamtheForethoughtofpurelight.

IamtheThoughtofthevirginSpirit,whohasraisedyoutoaplaceofhonor.

14

Arise,

rememberthatyouhaveheard,

andtraceyourroot:forIamcompassionate.

15

Guardyourselfagainsttheangelsofmisery,thedemonsofchaos,andallwhoentrapyou,

andbewareofdeepsleep,andthetrapatthecenteroftheunderworld.’

16

“Iraisedthesleeper,andsealedthesleeperinluminouswaterwithfiveseals,that

deathmightnotprevailfromthatmomenton.

17

“Behold,nowIshallascendtotheperfectrealm.

18

Ihavefinisheddiscussingeverythingwithyou.Ihavetoldyoueverything,foryouto

recordandcommunicatesecretlytoyourspiritualfriends.Forthisisthemysteryofthe

unshakablerace.”

19

TheSaviorcommunicatedthesethingstoJohnforhimtorecordandsafeguard.He

saidtohim,“Cursediseveryonewhowilltradethesethingsforapresent,forfood,drink,

clothes,oranythingelse.”

20

ThesethingswerecommunicatedtoJohnasamystery,andafterwardtheSavior

disappearedat

21

once.ThenJohnwenttotheotherdisciplesandreportedwhattheSaviorhadtoldhim.

JesusChrist

Amen

ThefollowingnotesprovideabriefcommentaryontheSecretBookofJames,theGospel of

Thomas,theBookofThomas,andtheSecretBookofJohn.Theyareintendedtoaidthereader

by explaining difficult passages, offering possible interpretations, and suggesting important

parallelsfromancientsources.

TheSecretBookofJames

NagHammadiCodexI,tractate2

page1,line1,topage16,line30

Title

.Thetextisuntitledinthemanuscript.Thepresenttitleissuppliedonthebasisof1:2

and1:5(“secretbook,”apokryphoninCoptic[andGreek]).Alsodescribedasabookin1:3

and1:7,andasa“treatise”in1:4,thetexthastheframeworkofaletterandsometimesis

provided with the title Epistula Iacobi Apocrypha (“Apocryphal Letter of James”) in the

scholarlyliterature.

1:1

: Salutation. “James”: apparently James the Just, the brother of Jesus, although here

JamesismadeapartoftheapostoliccircleoftheTwelve(1:3).Therecipientoftheletteris

unknown. Since the final letters of the name survive in the manuscript (—–thos), some

scholars have suggested that the recipient may be none other than the famous heretic

Cerinthos(seeIrenaeusofLyons,AgainstHeresies1.26).Thesalutationresemblessalutations

and benedictions in New Testament letters, for example, Ephesians 6:23–24. For a similar

seriesofterms(Peace,Love,Grace,Faith,Life),seetheSecretBookofJohn2:18.“Peacebe

withyou…”:inHebrew,Shalomlakem.

1:2–6:

Occasionfortheletter.2:“MeandPeter”:theorderindicatesrank,withJameshaving

priorityoverPeter(compareGalatians2:9).“InHebrew”:mostlikelyaliteraryfiction;the

word“Hebrew”(hebraiois)stillpreserves,inCoptic,theGreekcase-ending.3:Ontheneedfor

caution in the communication of holy books, see the Secret Book of John 16:18–21; and

especiallytheLetterofPetertoJames1.2(inthePseudo-Clementines):“Ibegandpleadwith

you not to communicate the books of my preachings, that I have sent you, to any of the

Gentiles,nortoanyofourowngroupbeforetheyhavebeentested.”5:Nothingisknownof

another“SecretBookofJames.”6:Severallinesofthetextaredamagedbeyondrepair.

1:7–14:

Introduction to the revelatory appearance of Jesus. 7: The apostles are depicted

composingtheirgospelsandmemoirs.JustinMartyrdescribessuch“memoirsoftheapostles”

in First Apology 66.3 and Dialogue with Trypho 101.3; 103.8; 105.5. 9: “Five hundred fifty

days”: Gnostic texts suggest various periods of time for resurrection appearances: eighteen

months (that is, five hundred forty days)—the Ophites and Valentinians, according to

Irenaeus; five hundred forty-five days (eighteen months plus five intercalary days?)

—AscensionofIsaiah;oreventwelveyears—PistisSophia,BooksofJeu.IntheNewTestament,

Luke-Actsisremarkablyconservativeinallowingonlyfortydays,betweentheresurrection

andtheascension,forthefoundationalappearancesoftherisenChrist.10: Compare John

16:5,28,andelsewhereinJohn.11:CompareMatthew14:28.12:Onedoesnotenterthe

kingdombyobeyingcommands,butratherbyrealizingthelifeofspiritualfullness.13:James

andPeterinparticulararetobefilled.

2:1–16:

Revelation about being filled. 1: Several lines of the text are damaged. 2–3: Four

statementsshowingpoeticparallelism.Gnostictextscommonlydescribealackofknowledge

asdrunkenness,andarealizationofknowledgeassobrietyafterdrunkenness.5–6:Compare

8:6–8:awoeandablessingreminiscentofJohn20:29.Itislaterbelievers,whohavenot

seen,whoaretrulyblessed.7:CompareMark2:1–12=Matthew9:1–8=Luke5:17–26.8–

9:Spiritualrestbringstrueandlastinghealth,andallowsonetoattainthekingdom.10:“The

onewhoistocome”maybethepersonofGod,ortheChildofHumanity,orChristcoming

with power and judgment to bring in a new world. 11: “Three times”: compare 1:12; 2:2;

2:10. 12–16: Riddles about being filled and lacking, resolved in verse 16. One should be

spiritually filled, and devoid of any preoccupation with the human intellect and the soul

(psyche).

3:1–17:

Revelation about suffering. 1: Compare Mark 10:28–30 = Matthew 19:27–29 =

Luke 18:28–30. In the Secret Book of James the speaker is James himself; in the New

TestamenttextsPeterspeaks this line. 2: Compare Matthew 6:13 = Luke 11:4 (the Lord’s

Prayer).3:Enduringtemptation,James1:12.5:TheonewhoendureswillbecomelikeJesus;

compare John 1:12–13; 1 John 3:1–2; Gospel of Thomas 106. “Through the Fathers

forethought(pronoia),byyourfreechoice”:God’swillandhumandecisiongohandinhand.

7:ThesufferingsofJesus(seethepassionnarrativesinthefourNewTestamentgospels)are

thepatternforthefuturesufferingsofbelievers.“Buriedintheground”:literally,“insand,”

asisthecaseinEgypt.Somescholarswouldemendthetexttoread“inshame.”“Bytheevil

one”:thesatanicpowerofthisworldisresponsibleforthesufferingsofJesus(compare1

Corinthians 2:8; Colossians 2:15; Ephesians 6:12). 8: The spirit is a wall of fortification to

protectthebelievers.9:Humanlifeandhumansufferingarebrief,fleeting.12:Theprotestof

JamesagainstmentionofthecrossanddeathofJesusmaybecomparedwithPeter’ssimilar

protestinMark8:32=Matthew16:22.13:Atheologyofthecross;compare1Corinthians

1:18,23,andthroughoutPaul.14:Opennesstodeathbringslife.Onthedeadseekinglife,see

John5:25.16: “For the kingdom of death …”: this obscure sentence seems to recommend

martyrdom(unless“thekingdomofdeath”istakenasacritiqueofmartyrdomassuicide).A

slightemendationoftheCoptictext(frommoutonoute)wouldchangethedifficultphrase

“kingdomofdeath”to“kingdomofGod.”17:“Besuperiortome”:compareJohn14:12.“The

childoftheholySpirit,”thatis,thechildofGod,wheretheholySpiritmaybetakenasGod

the Mother. Compare Gospel of Thomas 99; Gospel of the Hebrews fragment 3 (in Origen’s

CommentaryonJohn2.12.87),whereJesusreferstohisMothertheSpirit.

4:1–19:

Revelationaboutprophecyandtheword,2–4:“Theheadofprophecy”:notonlywas

JohntheBaptistbeheaded(Mark6:27–28=Matthew14:10–11;alsoMark6:16=Luke9:9),

butJohnwasconsideredbysomeearlyChristiansasthelastrepresentativeoftheprophetic

period (Matthew 11:12–14; Luke 16:16). 5: Compare Mark 4:33–34 = Matthew 13.34–35;

John16:25.8:Compare3:5,17.10–12:ParableofthePalmShoot.Thisparable,unknownin

other early Christian sources, compares the growth of a palm tree with the growth of the

kingdom.Frommodestbeginningscomesanabundantharvest;comparetheParableofthe

HeadofGrain,8:2.Thetranslationofthepresentparableremainsdifficult.“Stalk”isliterally

“womb,” and may also be translated as “productivity.” Verse 12 could be translated as

follows: “It [the date palm, or the root] certainly was good: now new growth could be

produced,sothatyoumightfindit[thekingdom,mostlikely].”13:CompareJohn17:5.14:

Theinterpretationoftheparables,itisacknowledged,takesplaceafterthedeathofJesusin

thelifeoftheearlychurch.OntheperiodoftimetherisenChristspentwiththedisciples,see

1:9andthenote;thenumbereighteenelsewhereisassociatedwithaneighteen-monthperiod

oftime.15:Acollectionoftitlesofparables.ComparetheParablesoftheShepherdandthe

Lost Sheep (Matthew 18:12–14 = Luke 15:3–7 = Gospel of Thomas 105), the Seed (Mark

4:26–29;Matthew13:24–30;Mark4:30–32=Matthew13:31–32=Luke13:18–19=Gospel

of Thomas 20) or the Sower (Mark 4:3–9 = Matthew 13:3–9 = Luke 8:5–8 = Gospel of

Thomas 9), the Houses (Matthew 7:24–27 = Luke 6:47–49), the Wise and Foolish Young

Women(Matthew25:1–13),theWorkersintheVineyard(Matthew20:1–16),theLostCoin

(Luke15:8–10),andtheWomanwiththeYeast(Matthew13:33=Luke13:20–21=Gospel

of Thomas 94) or the Jar of Flour (Gospel of Thomas 95). “The Coins”: probably double

drachmai.16:Comparethelistofspiritualvirtuesin1Corinthians13:13:faith,hope,and

love.17–18:Parable(orAllegory)oftheWheatandtheFarmer,basedonthelistinverse16.

5:1–8:

Continuingrevelationaboutsalvation.1:See2:2–3.2:CompareMark13:9–11=Luke

21:12–15;Matthew10:17–20=Luke12:11–12.3:AsummaryofthelifeofChristasasavior

who descends from heaven, gives revelation, experiences affliction, and finally is glorified.

ComparethegeneralframeworkoftheGospelofJohnandnumerousothergnosticizingtexts

thatproclaimadescending-ascendingsavior(forinstance,SecretBookofJohn10:13;16:1–

18).4:CompareJohn1:9–13andespecially14:theWord“tented,”or“tabernacled,”among

us;alsoJohn15:4.5: “The great light”: God is light and Christ is light, and there is light

withinanenlightenedperson(compareGospelofThomas24).8:Theenlightenedbelieveris

freefromworldlyoppressions.

6:1–13:

Revelation for correction and comfort. 1–3: Words of rebuke against complacency.

Passiveacquiescencetorevelationisnotsufficient:anawarenessofsalvationandanactive

missionaryprogramarenecessary.4:CompareMark10:25=Matthew19:24=Luke18:25.

“Isthatnottrue?”:thetranslationisuncertain;literally,“ornottodo,”whichmightbetaken

asanironicstatement(“orevennottoreign!”).5–6:CompareJohn16:16–24.Theascentof

the Child of God is the return to the heavenly realm, 10:1. 7: Compare John 1:10–11. 8:

Discipleship involves following Christ in life and beyond. On following Christ, see the

command to the disciples in Mark 1:17–18 = Matthew 4:19–20; Luke 5:10–11; also John

1:35–51.10:CompareMark11:23–24=Matthew21:21–22;Matthew7:7–8=Luke11:9–

10;John16:23–24;GospelofThomas2;90;92.11:Compare2Thessalonians1:10;1Timothy

3:16;1Peter3:18–20.12:“Saveyourselves,”1:12.13:CompareJohn14:15–17;1John2:1–

2.

7:1–14:

Additionalrevelationforcorrection.3:See1:12;6:12.4–6:Believersarestrangersin

thisworld,exilesfromtheirheavenlyhome.SeeGospelofThomas21;BookofThomas9:2;

SecretBookofJohn5:9–14onPigeradamas,andthroughoutthetextonthelifeofAdamand

all humanity; Ephesians 2:19; Hebrews 11:13–16. 8–11: A human being is described as

consistingofthreeparts:abodyofflesh,ananimalsoul,andavivifyingspirit.Toindulgethe

desiresofthefleshandtheanimalsoulistocourtdeath,buttoliveonthespiritistorealize

salvationforthewholeperson.See2:12–16.13:Incarnationentailswearingthefleshasa

garment,andsalvationisthesheddingofthisfleshlyclothing(andsometimesthedonningof

anew,gloriousgarment).Compare9:12;GospelofThomas21;37;BookofThomas7:16;Secret

BookofJohn11:1–6;Galatians3:27;1Corinthians15:42–57;2Corinthians5:1–5.Feware

saved, Gospel of Thomas 23; Matthew 22:14; Luke 13:23–24. 14: An enigmatic saying,

probablymeantasablessingupontheonewhounderstandsselftobealonewithGodthe

Father,GodtheMother,andGodtheChild.

8:1–15:

Additionalrevelationaboutsavingknowledge.1:“Knowyourself”isanancientsaying

usedinGreek,Christian,andGnosticthought.ComparetheinscriptionGnothisauton,“Know

yourself,”attheholyshrineofApolloatDelphi;thediscussionofthisandotherinscriptions

inPlutarch’sessay“OntheEatDelphi”;Galatians4:8–9and1Corinthians8:1–3,onknowing

andbeingknownbyGod;GospelofThomas3andBookofThomas1:5–6.Hereknowingselfis

knowingthespiritorthedivinelightwithin.2:ParableoftheHeadofGrain.Thekingdom

hassmallbeginningsbutyieldsafullharvest;comparetheParableofthePalmShoot,4:10–

12.6–8:See2:5–6;John20:29.9–10:CompareJohn14:2–3;Matthew7:24–27=Luke6:47–

49. 11: 6:7. 13: Compare 3:16: living toward death allows one to transcend this mortal

existence. 14: Compare 4:10, and the Parable of the Palm Shoot. On the kingdom “within

you,”seeGospel of Thomas 3; Luke 17:20–21. On the enlightening light, see John 1:9. 15:

CompareGalatians3:13;Deuteronomy21:23.

9:1–14:

Conclusion of the revelation. 1–2: Reference to the alternating words of

encouragementandrebukeinthetext.3:TheresurrectionappearancetoJamestheJustis

mentionedin1Corinthians15:7,anddescribedinsomedetailintheGospeloftheHebrews

fragment 7 (in Jerome’s On Illustrious People 2). After the resurrection Christ appeared to

James,askedforatableandbread,and“tookthebreadandblessedit,andbrokeitandgave

to James the Just, and said to him, ‘My brother, eat your bread, because the Child of

Humanityhasarisenfromthosewhosleep.’”7:Thefinalityofeternallife:onewhoisfilled

withspirituallifewillneverbelost.10:“Theglorythatiswaitingforme”:compareJohn

17:1–5; Luke 24:26; 1 Timothy 3:16; 1 Peter 1:21; 2 Peter 1:17. 11: “To the right of my

Father,”thatis,inaplaceofparticularhonor.TheaffirmationthatChristissituatedatthe

righthandoftheFatheriscommoninearlyChristiantexts,forinstance,Matthew26:64;Acts

7:55–56;Romans8:34.12:Thechariotwasconsideredtheusualmeansoftransportationto

heaven.NoteElijahin2Kings2:11;EnochinEthiopic(1)Enoch70:2andHebrew(3)Enoch

6:1;andvariousfiguresonRomancommemorativecoins.Onstrippingandclothing,see7:13

andthenote.13–44:Thosewhohavepriorknowledgeofthegospelareespeciallyblessed.

Comparealso2:9;6:11;GospelofThomas19.Accordingtoverse14,JamesandPetershare

salvationwithotherswhoareamongtheelect.See10:7–14,andthelater“lovedoneswho

aretoappear,”whoarebelieversliketheactualreaderstowhomthetextisaddressed.

10:1–10:

ConclusiontotherevelatoryappearanceofJesus.1:TheLordascendstoheaven,and

James and Peter prepare for an ecstatic journey. 2: Their vision is portrayed with typical

apocalypticimages.Comparethe“littleapocalpyse”ofMark13:7–8=Matthew24:6–8(plus

verse31)=Luke21:9–11;also1Corinthians15:52;1Thessalonians4:16;Revelation1:10

and elsewhere throughout that book, where trumpet blasts are mentioned. 5: “The divine

majesty,”God:afrequentdesignationamongGnostics;comparealso2Peter1:17;Hebrews

1:3. Here God seems to reside in the third heaven; see Gospel of Thomas 11. 6: Compare

GospelofThomas13.7:“Childrencomingafterus”:thetextiswrittentoaddressreaderswho

live some time after James and Peter but still look to Jacobean and Petrine traditions for

guidanceandinspiration(10:12–14).9–10:AsleaderoftheJerusalemchurch,Jamessends

thedisciplesforthontheirmissionarytravelstovariouslocations.SeeGospelofThomas12;

Galatians1:19;2:1–10alongwith11–14(peoplecametoAntioch“fromJames”);Acts12:17;

15:1–35;21:15–26;andpassagesinHegesippus(preservedinEusebius’HistoryoftheChurch)

andthePseudo-Clementineliterature.

10:11–14:

Closeoftheletter.11:Therecipientoftheletter(“you”)istoinitiatetheprocess

of enlightenment and salvation for those who will become children of the Lord. 14: On

becomingchildrenofGod,compareJohn1:12–13;1John3:1–2;Galatians3:26–28;Romans

8:12–25.

TheGospelofThomas

NagHammadiCodexII,tractate2

page32,line10,topage51,line28

Title

. The first of the two titles is provided in the manuscript, at the end of the text. The

second,probablyanearlierversionofthetitle,istakenfromtheincipit,oropeningofthe

text.

Prologue

.CompareBookofThomas1:1.The“livingJesus”isJesusasarepresentativeand

revealeroftruelife.JudasThomastheTwinisliterally“DidymosJudasThomas,”withthe

Greek(Didymos)andSyriac(Thomas)wordsfor“twin.”OnJudasthebrotherofJesus,see

Mark6:3=Matthew13:55,andonThomas,seethefourNewTestamentlistsoftheTwelve

(Mark3:16–19;Matthew10:2–4;Luke6:14–16;Acts1:13),andespeciallyJohn11:16;14:5;

20:24–29;21:2.AselsewhereamongSyriacChristians(mostnotablytheBookofThomasand

theapocryphalActsofThomas),JudasishereconsideredtobethetwinbrotherofJesus,and

thustheidealfiguretofunctionasguarantoroftheJesustradition.

1

:“Hesaid”:probablyJesus,possiblyJudaswithaneditorialnote.Thefirstsayingisan

invitationtosearchforadeepermeaninginthesayings.Theinterpretation(hermeneia,asin

“hermeneutic”)isthekeythatwillunlockthesefrequentlypuzzlingsayings.CompareJohn

8:51–52.

2

: The quest for knowledge is described as a series of stages. The search will call into

questioncomfortablesuppositionsaboutlifeintheworld.Thesedisturbingdiscoverieswill

lead to fresh insights, so that one finally understands oneself as exalted, crowned with

knowledgeandkingship.TheGreekfragmentOxyrhynchusPapyrus654addsanotherstage

to the series: “after reigning one will rest.” These stages are also outlined in the Book of

Thomas 4:13; 9:6–7; and the Gospel of the Hebrews fragment 4 (in Clement of Alexandria,

Miscellanies[Stromateis]2.9.45;5.14.96);seealsoDialogueoftheSavior(NagHammadiCodex

III,tractate5),page129,lines14–16;Matthew7:7–8=Luke11:9–10.

3

:Compare51;89;112.AsatiricalcritiqueofannouncementsthatthekingdomofGodis

coming as an external, political, worldly entity. Rather, the kingdom comes with the

knowledgeofselfandofGod.Onknowingself,seetheSecretBookofJames8:1andthenote.

The kingdom “in the sea” (the Greek fragment Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 654 has “under the

earth”)referstothesubterraneanwatersoftheabyss.SeeDeuteronomy30:11–14;Romans

10:6–8;Luke17:20–21.

4

:AJewishboywasusuallycircumcisedontheeighthday;compareGenesis17:12.Herea

child,soinnocentthathehasnotyetbeencircumcised,communicatesknowledge;compare

Matthew11:25–26=Luke10:21.Onthereversal,compareMark10:31=Matthew19:30;

20:16; Luke 13:30. “Single one”: an integrated existence that transcends all the divisive

categoriesofhumanlife(compare11;22;23;104).

5

: Compare Mark 4:22 = Luke 8:17; Matthew 10:26 = Luke 12:2. The Greek fragment

Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 654 adds “and nothing buried that will not be raised.” A similar

referencetoburialandresurrectionisalsofoundonaChristianshroudofthefifthorsixth

century;compare1Corinthians15:20–22.

6

: The disciples raise questions about Jewish or Jewish-Christian observance of the law;

compare 14; 27; 53; 102; Matthew 6:1–18. Here Jesus ignores external commands and

emphasizesthatoneistoliveinaccordancewiththepromptingsoftheheart.“Donot…do

whatyoudislike”isaparaphraseofthegoldenrule.CompareRabbiHillelintheBabylonian

Talmud, Shabbath 31a; Tobit 4:15; Matthew 7:12 = Luke 6:31; also the command to love

one’s neighbor as oneself, Mark 12:31 = Matthew 22:39 = Luke 10:27 (citing Leviticus

19:18);Matthew19:19;Romans13:8;James2:8.“Forthereisnothinghidden…”:see5.

7

:Onthelion,compareYaldabaothintheSecretBookofJohn6:6.Oneatingandbeing

eaten,see11;60.Ifthelion(asymbolfortheworldoffleshanddeath)eatsahuman,thisis

anaccursedmatter,becausethenhumanityisassimilatedtothelion.Ontheotherhand,ifa

human being eats the lion, this is a blessed occurrence, because then the bestial becomes

human.Forotherstatementsofthetransformationinherentinsalvation,see22(becoming

one);106(becomingChrist);113(becomingmale).

8

:ParableoftheWiseFisher.ComparetheParableoftheFishingNet,Matthew13:47–50.

“A person”: literally “the human” (in other words, “the wise person”); as uttered by the

historicalJesusthisparablewouldprobablybegin“Thekingdomislike…”“Whoeverhas

ears…,”thatis,“listencarefully”:aninvitationtothereadertofindtherealinterpretationof

thesaying.Compare21;24;63;65;94;Mark4:9,23;Matthew11:15;13:9,43;Luke8:8;

14:35;Revelation2:7;13:9.

9

:ParableoftheSower,Mark4:3–9=Matthew13:3–9=Luke8:5–8.Onlytheparableis

presentedhere,withouttheallegoricalamplificationsoftheNewTestamentversions.

10

:CompareLuke12:49:Jesusasjudge.

11

: A series of four riddles. On the two heavens passing away, compare Mark 13:31 =

Matthew24:35=Luke21:33;Matthew5:18;Luke16:17;1Corinthians7:31;1John2:17;

and2Corinthians12:2–4,onthethirdheaven,“Paradise,”astherealmofGod.Oneating

and vivifying the dead, compare 7 and the note. On becoming one and becoming two,

compareespecially22;also4andthenote.

12

:AJewish-ChristianstatementaffirmingthecentralroleandexaltedpositionofJames

theJust,thebrotherofJesus.CompareSecretBookofJames10:9–10andthenoteforthose

verses.ThehonorarydescriptionofJamesasone“forwhosesakeheavenandearthcameinto

being”isaJewishexpressionusedtopraiseholypeople.

13

:ComparetheeventsontheroadtoCaesareaPhilippi,Mark8:27–33=Matthew16:13–

23 = Luke 9:18–22. Here Judas the Twin exceeds Peter and Matthew in insight, and the

juxtapositionofsaying13andsaying12suggeststhatheretheroleofJudasisunderstoodas

also transcending that of his brother James. “I am not your teacher” (or “master”): Jesus

serves the drink, but it is the believer who must partake and become intoxicated with

knowledge. Compare 106; Secret Book of James 4:7–8; Secret Book of John 16:11–16. The

“three things” told to Judas Thomas are unknown but presumably must be matters that

ordinarybelieverswouldconsiderblasphemous,andhencepunishablebystoning.

14

:AnothersayingopposingJewishorJewish-Christianformsofpiety(fasting,praying,

givingalms).Compare6;27;53;102.Forthesecondpartofthesayingaboutthelifeofthe

wandering disciple (compare 42), see Luke 10:8–9 = Matthew 10:8; 1 Corinthians 10:27;

plusMark7:15=Matthew15:11.

15

:Thephrase“bornofawoman”designateshumanbirth;compareGalatians4:4.

16

:CompareLuke12:49–53=Matthew10:34–36.Thewordfor“alone”istheGreekterm

monachos,usedtodescribeonewhoissingle,independent,atonewithself(compare49;73).

Thetermmayalsodenote“monk.”See4andthenote,ontherelatedterm“singleone.”

17

:Comparethewisdomsayingin1Corinthians2:9(seeIsaiah64:4).

18

:Toreturntothebeginningistodiscovertheend.Compare49;SecretBookofJohn5:12.

19

:Truelifecomesnotfromphysicalbirthbutfromthepriorspirituallife(see99;also

John 1:1–5, 14). On stones that serve a useful function, see Matthew 3:9 = Luke 3:8;

Matthew4:3=Luke4:3;Luke19:40,andHabakkuk2:11.ThefivelivingtreesofParadise

are known from other Gnostic texts, for example, Pistis Sophia; compare also Genesis 2:9;

Revelation2:7;22:2;SecretBookofJohn11:8–15.

20

:ParableoftheMustardSeed,Mark4:30–32=Matthew13:31–32=Luke13:18–19.

21

:Adescriptionofthelifeofdiscipleship.Thefirstpartofthissayingmaintainsthatthe

truedisciplegivesupbodilyandworldlyattachments.Theremovalofclothingseemstobe

linked, in a symbolic way, to the release of one’s claim upon a piece of property. On the

secondpartofthesaying,seeMatthew24:43=Luke12:39;Mark3:27=Matthew12:29=

Luke 11:21–22. On the third part, see Luke 12:35–37. “Gird yourselves and prepare for

action”: literally, “Gird your loins with great strength.” Girding the loins involved the

hitchingupofclothinginpreparationforactivity.Onthefourthpartofthesaying,seeJoel

3:13;Mark4:29.“Whoeverhasears…”:see8andthenote.

22

: Another saying that begins by likening believers to young children; compare Mark

9:33–37=Matthew18:1–5=Luke9:46–48;Mark10:13–16=Matthew19:13–15=Luke

18:15–17.Onthenaivequestionofthedisciples,compareNicodemusas“straightman”in

John3:4.Salvationisthetransformationofone’sfragmentedlifeintoaunifiedwholeness;

seetheGospeloftheEgyptiansfragment5(inClementofAlexandria,Miscellanies[Stromateis]

3.13.92),whichemploysmotifsreflectedalsoinGospelofThomassaying37(tramplingon

clothing); 2 Clement 12:2; Acts of Peter 38. In the New Testament, compare the baptismal

formulainGalatians3:27–28;also1Corinthians12:13;Colossians3:11;Ephesians2:14–16.

23

:CompareMatthew22:14;Ecclesiastes7:28;SecretBookofJames7:13–14.

24

:“Whoeverhasears…”:see8andthenote.“Itshines,”or“thepersonshines.”Theeyes

are the windows of the mind, and light shines into and out of a person through the eyes.

CompareMatthew6:22–23=Luke11:34–36.

25

:“Companion”:literally“brother.”“Life”:literally“soul,”probablyaSemitism.Compare

thecommandtoloveone’sneighbor,Leviticus19:18(seeabove,thenotetosaying6);and

Deuteronomy32:10;Psalm17:8;Proverbs7:2;Sirach17:22.

26

:CompareMatthew7:3–5=Luke6:41–42.

27

:AsayingthatinterpretstruefastingandtrueSabbath-observanceasabstinenceandrest

fromtheworld.Keeping“theSabbatha[true]Sabbath”mayalsobeunderstoodaskeeping

“the[whole]weekaSabbath.”ForotherreevaluationsofJewishorJewish-Christianpiety,

see6;14;53;102.

28

: Compare the Secret Book of James 2:2–3. In Gnostic texts one who is ignorant and

unawareisoftendescribedasdrunk.

29

:Thissayingmarvelsatthecloserelationshipbetweenthespirit,ontheonehand,and

flesh and body, on the other. The spirit (“such great wealth”) exists in the flesh (“such

poverty”), and may also lead the body to salvation. See 7 and the note; also 83; 85; 111;

SecretBookofJames7:8–11.

30

: Compare Matthew 18:20. The saying as preserved in Oxyrhynchus Papyrus 1 may

possiblyberestoredtoreadasfollows:“Wheretherearethree,theyarewithoutGod.Where

thereisasingleone,Isay,Iampresent.”Onthepersonwhoisalone,atonewithGod,see4

and16,withthenotes.

31

:CompareMark6:4=Matthew13:57=Luke4:23–24;John4:44.

32

:CompareMatthew5:14;7:24–25=Luke6:47–48.

33

: The Coptic adds, after “in your ear,” the phrase “in the other ear.” This addition

probably is an instance of dittography, but could be taken to have an esoteric meaning,

namelythatonemustbeopentoaspecialGnostic“hearing”ofthetext.CompareMatthew

10:27=Luke12:3;Mark4:21=Luke8:16;Matthew5:15=Luke11:33.

34

:CompareMatthew15:14=Luke6:39.

35

:Compare21;Mark3:27=Matthew12:29=Luke11:21–22.

36

:CompareMatthew6:25=Luke12:22.

37

:Thevisionofdiscipleship.See21and22,withthenotes;alsoGenesis2:25and3:7,on

nakednessandtheabsenceorpresenceofshame.Theclause“Whenyoustripandarenot

embarrassed [or ashamed]” may also be translated “When you strip yourselves of your

shame.”

38

:CompareMatthew13:17=Luke10:24;17:22;Mark2:20=Matthew9:15=Luke

5:35;John7:33–36;saying59.

39

:CompareMatthew23:13=Luke11:52;Matthew10:16(onsnakesanddoves).Onthe

samegeneraltheme,seesaying100.

40

:AjudgmentsayinglikeMatthew15:13;John15:6;theParableoftheGrapevineand

theWeeds(BookofThomas8:2–6);ortheParableoftheWheatandtheWeeds(saying57;

Matthew13:24–30).

41

:CompareMark4:24–25=Matthew13:12=Luke8:18;Matthew25:29=Luke19:26.

42

:Otherpossibletranslationsofthisbriefandfascinatingsayingarethefollowing:“Come

intobeingasyoupassaway”(compare2Corinthians4:16;SecretBookofJames3:13–16);and

“Becomepassersby”(thatis,liveasstrangersintheworld).Thetranslation“Bewanderers”

maybecomparedwithdescriptionsofwanderingcharismaticmissionariesinMark6:7–13=

Matthew10:5–15=Luke9:1–6;10:1–12;Didache11–13.

43

:CompareMatthew7:16–20=Luke6:43–44;Matthew12:33.

44

:CompareMark3:28–29=Matthew12:31–32=Luke12:10.

45

: See Luke 6:44–45, where references to fruit harvested and merchandise stored are

broughttogetherinasimilarway;alsoMatthew7:16–20;12:34–35.

46

:CompareMatthew11:11=Luke7:28.“BowtheheadbeforeJohn”:literally,“break

(orlower)theeyes,”indeferenceorrespect.

47

: On the first part, see Matthew 6:24 = Luke 16:13; on the second, Mark 2:22 =

Matthew9:17=Luke5:37–39;onthethird,Mark2:21=Matthew9:16=Luke5:36.

48

:Compare104;Matthew18:19;Mark11:23=Matthew21:21;Matthew17:20=Luke

17:6;1Corinthians13:2.

49

:Compare18;50;SecretBookofJohn5:12.

50

: One of the most overtly mythological sayings in the entire text, saying 50 parallels

much of what is discussed in detail in the Secret Book of John. Believers ultimately derive

theirexistencefromthelightabove.Thedivinelightcameintoexistenceindependently,and

eventually showed itself in “an image of light” (literally, “their image”). Believers are the

childrenofthisdivinelight,andtheythemselvesareenlightenedwithaninnerlight(“your

Fatherinyou,”compare24)thatenablesthembothtomove(compareSecretBookofJohn

10:8)andtorestfromlife’slabors.

51

:Adenialofthenewworldassomethingreservedonlyforthefuture:thenewworldhas

already come. The present reality of the new realm of life is a common theme in various

Gnosticandgnosticizingtexts:thelastjudgmentoccursinthepresent(John3:18–19),and

the resurrection, too, is already here (compare John 5:25; 1 Corinthians 15:12; 2 Timothy

2:17–18; Treatise on Resurrection [Nag Hammadi Codex I, tractate 4]). In general, see also

Luke17:20–21;inthepresenttext,sayings3and112.

52

: A preoccupation with prophecy and fulfillment distracts one from the real object of

attention, “the Living One who is with you.” Compare John 5:39–40. The twenty-four

prophetsmaybethetwenty-fourbooksoftheHebrewcanon,the“Old”Testament,according

toonemeansofcounting(2Esdras14:45).

53

: A critique of the efficacy of circumcision. Compare 6; 14; 27; 102. On spiritual

circumcision,seeRomans2:25–29.

54

:CompareespeciallyLuke6:20,alsoMatthew5:3(forthephrase“kingdomofheaven”).

55

:Compare99;Mark8:34–35=Matthew16:24–25=Luke9:23–24;Matthew10:37–38

=Luke14:26–27.

56

:Todiscoverthattheworldisonlyadeadbodyistoliberateoneselffromtheworld.

Alsosee78.

57

:ParableoftheWheatandtheWeeds:compareMatthew13:24–30.

58

:CompareMatthew5:10–12=Luke6:22–23;James1:12;1Peter3:14;SecretBookof

James3:1–17.

59

:CompareJohn13:33;SecretBookofJames8:4–8;saying38.

60

:Asayingonconsumingandbeingconsumed:compare7.

61

:Onthefirstportion,seeLuke17:34;alsoMatthew24:40–41=Luke17:34–35.“Asif

youaresomebody”:theCopticliterallyreads“asiffromone.”IntheancientMediterranean

worldguestsordinarilyreclinedoncouchesforformalmeals.Thecommentsonwholeness

andfragmentationemphasizetheneedtobeanintegrated,unifiedperson,justasGodistruly

One.(“Salomesaid”and“Jesussaid”areaddedforclarity.)Seethe“singleone”in4;11;22;

23;104;aswellasthediscussionaboutbeingfilledandlacking,intheSecretBookofJames

2:12–16. In the Secret Book of John, as elsewhere in Gnostic literature, the fullness of the

divinelightiscontrastedwiththediminutionanddeficiencyofthelightfallenintothisworld

(5:16;7:10–11;8:1,6–9;13:18).

62

:Thefirstsentenceispartiallyrestored;compareMark4:11=Matthew13:11=Luke

8:10.“Donotlet…”:compareMatthew6:3.

63

:ParableoftheRichFool:compareLuke12:16–21.“Whoeverhasears…”:see8andthe

note.

64

:ParableoftheGreatBanquet:compareLuke14:16–24=Matthew22:1–10.

65

:ParableoftheVineyard:compareMark12:1–9=Matthew21:33–41=Luke20:9–16.

“Perhapstheservantdidnotknowthem”:possiblycorrectto“Perhapstheydidnotknow[or

recognize]theservant.”“Whoeverhasears…”:compare8andthenote.

66

: Compare Psalm 118:22; Mark 12:10 = Matthew 21:42 = Luke 20:17; Acts 4:11; 1

Peter2:7.

67

: Compare 61 and the note; also 1 Corinthians 13:2; Mark 8:36 = Matthew 16:26 =

Luke9:25.

68

:CompareMatthew5:10–11=Luke6:22;alsosaying58.Ontheplaceofpersecutionas

aninnerplace,seesaying69.Analternateunderstandingofthelastpartof68mayyieldthe

followingmeaning:“Youwilldiscoveraplacewhereyouwillnotbepersecuted,”perhaps

PellainTransjordan,whereChristiansfleeingfromJerusalemsettledatthetimeofthefirst-

century

C.E

.revoltagainsttheRomans.

69

:Onthefirstbeatitude,seeMatthew5:10.“Intheirhearts”:compareJohn4:23–24.On

thesecond,seeLuke6:21=Matthew5:6.

70

: Salvation and life are achieved only when the inner, spiritual person comes to full

expression.Comparealso41;61;67.

71

:Partiallyrestored.ComparesayingsaboutthedestructionoftheJewishtemple(Mark

14:58 = Matthew 26:61; Mark 15:29 = Matthew 27:40; Acts 6:14) or the bodily temple

(John2:19).

72

:CompareLuke12:13–14.

73

:Abriefdialoguecontrastingthesmallnumberofbelieverswiththelargenumberof

those needing salvation; compare saying 23. “The harvest is large …”: compare Matthew

9:37–38=Luke10:2.“Someonesaid”:literally,“Hesaid.”Onthesayingofthispersonsee

Origen, Against Celsus 8.15. “Many are around the well”: perhaps “many are around the

drinkingtrough.”“Nooneisinthewell”:or,“nothingisinthewell.”“Manyarestanding…”:

comparetheParableoftheWiseandFoolishYoungWomen,Matthew25:1–13.On“those

whoarealone”(thetextusesthewordmonachos),see16andthenote.

74

:ParableofthePearl:compareMatthew13:45–46,Onthesayingaboutthetreasure,see

Matthew6:19–20=Luke12:33;Matthew13:44.

75

:“Iamthelight…”:compareJohn8:12.“Iamall…”:compareIsaiah44:6;Revelation

1:8;22:13;alsosayings18;49;50;SecretBookofJohn5:12andthenote.“Splitapieceof

wood…”:theseekermayfindJesusanywhere.Jesusisomnipresentandpenetratesthevery

fabricofthisworld.Onsplittingwoodandgatheringrocks,seealsoEcclesiastes10:9.

76

:CompareMatthew11:7–8=Luke7:24–25.

77

:CompareLuke11:27–28;23:29;alsoMark13:17=Matthew24:19=Luke21:23.

78

:Compare56.In56thewordfor“carcass”isptoma;in78thewordfor“thebody”isp-

soma.

79

:Spiritualwealthinthespiritualkingdomisfarsuperiortoworldlypower.Compare2;

3;29;83.

80

:Compare10;16.

81–83

: Three sayings about the creation of Adam, and so humanity, in the image and

likenessofGod.CompareGenesis1:26–27;SecretBookofJohn9:1–3;saying50.

84

:CompareMatthew8:20=Luke9:58.TheNewTestamentversionsofthissayingdonot

includethefinalstatementabout“rest”(comparethenotetosaying2;also50).

85

:Compare29;56;78;111.Thepersonwhobaseshisorherwelfare—bodyandsoul—

uponthebodilyworldwillbedisappointed.

86

:Compare21;alsopossiblySecretBookofJohn14:5;Mark8:38=Matthew16:27=

Luke9:26.

87

:CompareMatthew23:25–26=Luke11:39–41.

88

:CompareMatthew11:28–30.

89

:CompareLuke12:54–56=Matthew16:1–3.

90

:CompareMatthew7:7–8=Luke11:9–10;alsosayings2;92.

91

:CompareMatthew7:6.Theword“worthless”isatextualrestorationofasmalllacuna.

92

:SeeMatthew7:8=Luke11:10;saying90.

93

:CompareMatthew5:42=Luke6:30;6:34–35.

94

: Parable of the Yeast: compare Matthew 13:33 = Luke 13:20–21. “Whoever has

ears…”:see8andthenote.

95

: Parable of the Jar of Flour. This parable, otherwise unknown in early Christian

literature, proclaims the secrecy of the kingdom and its elusive quality. The kingdom is a

hidden,fragilepartofhumanlife.Itcomesandgoesinsecretandcaneasilybelost.

96

:ParableoftheAssassin.Thisparable,alsounknownintheNewTestamentandother

earlyChristianliterature,emphasizesthatcommitmenttothekingdomrequiresforethought,

preparation,andstrength.

97

:CompareMark3:32–35=Matthew12:47–50=Luke8:20–21.

98

:CompareMark12:13–17=Matthew22:15–22=Luke20:20–26.Thethirdandlastof

thecommands(“givemewhatismine”)isnotfoundintheNewTestamentversionsofthe

saying,andelevatestheplaceandsignificanceofJesus.

99

:Compare55andthereferencesinthenote.Herethefirsttwostatementsofthesaying

presentaconundrum:oneistohateone’sparents,andyetoneisalsotoloveone’sparents.

The concluding sentence resolves the riddle by positing two orders of family, and two

mothersofJesus.Thelacunamaypossiblyberestoredasfollows:“Formymotherbrought

me forth.” Mary brought Jesus forth, but Jesus’ “true mother” (probably the holy Spirit)

providedtruelife.SeetheSecretBookofJames3:17andthenoteconcerningtheSpiritas

mother.

100

:Compare39.VariousofJesus’woespronouncedagainstthePhariseesareknownin

theNewTestamentgospels,forinstance,Matthew23:1–36andLuke11:37–54.Thedogin

thefoodtroughisafrequentthemeinfolkliterature.

101

:Compare21;Matthew24:43=Luke12:39.“Wheretherobberswillenter”:or,“when

therobberswillenter.”“Prepareforaction”:literally,“girdtheloins.”Thesayingispartially

restored,includingtheword“estate.”

102

:CompareMark2:18–20=Matthew9:14–15=Luke5:33–35;alsoothercritiquesof

JewishorJewish-Christianobservanceinsayings6;14;27;53.

103

:Thissayingmaybeinterpretedindifferentways.Itmayrefertopolemicalstatements

about Jesus being born of a whore (see John 8:41, as well as other Jewish traditions

describingJesusasYeshubenPantera,sometimesunderstoodtobeJesusthesonofMaryand

aRomansoldiernamedPanther).Amoreprobableinterpretationisthatoneshoulddespise

one’sphysicalparents;seesaying99.

104

:Compare22and48,andthenotesonthem.

105

:ParableoftheLostSheep:compareMatthew18:12–14=Luke15:3–7.Onthesheep

being“thebiggest,”seetheParableoftheWiseFisher,saying8.

106

: Compare 13; John 7:37. Jesus promises to become mystically identified with the

believer.

107

:ParableoftheHiddenTreasure:compareandcontrastMatthew13:44.

108

:Compare79.

109

:CompareIsaiah34:4;Hebrews1:12;Revelation6:14.

110

: This saying is presented here as a separate saying, though problems remain (for

instance,anidiosyncraticquotationformula,“Jesussays”).Compare56;78.

111

:Compare29;85.

112

:Compare3;Luke17:20–21.

113

: In much of Gnostic literature Peter is made the advocate of harshly chauvinistic

attitudes.HereJesus’responsetoPeter,thoughshockingtomodernsensitivities,isintended

tobeastatementofliberation.Thefemaleprincipleissavedwhenallthatisearthly(thatis,

allied with an earth Mother) is transformed into what is heavenly (that is, allied with a

heavenly Father). Thus all people on the earth, whether women or men, require such a

transformation.Alsoseesaying7andthenoteonit.

TheBookofThomas

NagHammadiCodexII,tractate7

page138,line1,topage145,line19

Title

.Ofthetwotitlesofthetext,thefirstisgivenasatitleinthemanuscriptandisfollowed

by this descriptive phrase: “The contender [or champion] writing to the perfect”—hence

scholarshavesometimesreferredtothetextastheBookofThomastheContender.Thesecond

titleisbasedontheincipitandmaybeanolderformofthetitle.

1:1

: Incipit, or Opening. Compare Gospel of Thomas Prologue. In the early church it was

frequentlyassertedthatsomeonenamedMatthewfunctionedasthecompilerofsayings(and

attimesspecificallysecretsayings)ofJesus.SeePapias(inEusebius’History of the Church

3.39.16), as well as statements in Clement of Alexandria’s Miscellanies [Stromateis] and

Hippolytus’RefutationofAllHeresies.

1:2–7:

Speech introducing the revelatory dialogue. 3: On Judas Thomas as the brother and

twinofJesus,seeGospelofThomasPrologueandthenote.“Mytruefriend”:comparetherole

ofthe“beloveddisciple”intheGospelofJohn,andprobablyalsointheSecretGospelofMark.

A list of questions that describe what one must know in order to be saved is common in

Gnostictexts.PerhapsthemostfamousofsuchlistsisinClementofAlexandria,Excerptsof

Theodotus 78.2; compare also Secret Book of John 1:6–8; 17. 4–6: Thomas is instructed to

continuethequestforself-knowledge.CompareGospelofThomas3;SecretBookofJames8:1

andthenote.“Whoeverdoesnotknowself…”:theCoptictexthasverbsintheperfecttense,

literally“has(not)known.”

2:1–14:

Dialogueaboutvisibleandinvisiblethings.1:“Yourascension”:compareSecretBook

ofJames9:8,12;10:1,7;SecretBookofJohn10:13;16:17;Luke24:51;Acts1:9–11.2: On

doingoraccomplishingthetruth,seeJohn3:21;1John1:6.3–4:Thecontrastbetweenthe

visibleandtheinvisibleisacontrastbetweenthelowerworldofbody,change,perishability,

andanimalnature,ontheonehand,andthehigherworldofsoul,constancy,immortality,

andspiritualnature,ontheotherhand.Thetextadmitsthatitisdifficulttolivealifebased

ontheinvisible,spiritualworld.Thiscontrastismostfamiliarfromthediscussionofthesoul

in Plato’s Phaedo. On the rhetorical questions of these verses, and particularly verse 3,

compare John 3:12. 5: The theme of being workers for spiritual truth ties this section of

dialoguetogether;compareverses2,4,5,14.7–8:Partiallyrestored;theconclusionofverse

7cannotbereconstructedwithconfidence.10–11: Visible bodies need to eat other visible

thingsinordertosurvive,andthisonlyperpetuatesthecycleofchangeanddissolution.14:

On still being babies, students, or apprentices (see verse 5), compare 1 Corinthians 3:1–3;

Ephesians4:13–14;Hebrews5:12–14.

3:1–14:

Dialogue about escape from the visible world. 1–3: Parable of the Archers. On the

wordinginverse3,see1Corinthians3:13.4:ItistheSaviorwhorevealswhetherornot

one’slifeisonapropercourse.CompareJohn1:9;8:12;12:46.6:Aquestionaboutthesun.

7–8:Hereandelsewhereinancientreligiousliterature,thespiritualandenlightenedpartofa

personisdescribedasbeingdrawntoheavenbythebeamsofthesun.11–12:Verse11is

partially restored, verse 12 largely restored. 13: On the personification of wisdom, see the

SecretBookofJohn5:6andthenote.PlatoandotherGreekphilosophersdescribethesoulas

havingwings.Similarly,theancientEgyptiansportraythesoulasabird.

4:1–19:

Dialogueaboutthosewhodonotescapefromthevisibleworld.2:Forasimilarabrupt

intrusionofthefirst-personplural“we,”seeJohn3:11.3:Wisdomreflectionsreminiscentof

Proverbs and other wisdom literature. 4: Psalm 1:3. 5: Compare 3:13–14. 7–11: The

imprisonmentofthesepeopleisdepictedinamannerthatrecallsPlatoandthePhaedoonce

again.SeeespeciallyPhaedo81C–82A;83DE.12:Thetextistoobadlydamagedtoallowfor

confidentrestoration.13:Partlyrestoredatthebeginning;theCoptictextusesverbsinthe

pasttense.Onthestagesinthequestfortruth,compare9:6–7;GospelofThomas2.14:“Our

ownpeople,”thatis,thewise,perfectpeople.16:“Body,”literally“vessel.”17:“Thefaith

theyoncehad”:thesepeoplehavewingsbutdonotusethem,4:5.Oncetheywerecountedas

believers(compareMark4:18–19=Matthew13:22=Luke8:14;Revelation2:4),butthey

succumbed to the fire smoldering within them. As a result, eventually they may be

reincarnated;compare9:5;SecretBookofJohn14:17.19:SeethePhaedo81C–E.

5:1–16:

Dialogueaboutthefateofordinarypeople.2:Thesepeoplehavegoodintentionsbut

succumb to passion and sins of the flesh. 5: “Kingdom,” restored. These people may be

ordinarybelieverswhorefusethelifeofstrictabstinencefromtheworld.Theirlotwillnotbe

ahappyone.8–9:Partlyrestored.14–16:AllegoryofPlantLife,alsodescriptiveofhuman

reproductionandlife.ComparePlato’sPhaedo83DE;theHomericHymntoDemeter,onthelife

cycleoftheGrainMotherandherdaughterKoreascelebratedintheEleusinianMysteries;1

Corinthians 15:36–38, 42–44; John 12:24. In the Book of Thomas, however, the allegory

communicatesanasceticmessage:sowingandreproducingdonotbringlife,butratherdeath.

6:1–11:

Dialogueaboutthefateofscoffers.4–11:PortraitofTartaros,withfeaturestypicalof

other depictions of the underworld. Compare Hesiod’s Theogony 736–44; Plato’s Phaedo

111C–114CandRepublic614B–621D(mythofEr);SecretBookofJohn14:15–17,22;Ethiopic

ApocalypseofPeter;andDante’sInferno.Verses6–8arepartiallyrestored;thetranslationof

verses 7–8 remains tentative. “The rulers …”: or, “Those who persecute you will be given

overtotheangelTartarouchos.”

7:1–27:

Revelationofwoes.Inchapters7–9,theSavioruttersaseriesoftwelvewoesagainst

those who indulge the fire and the flesh. 2: “The prison that will perish”: the body is the

perishable prison of the soul in Platonic and Orphic thought. See also Secret Book of John

11:5;13:14.9:Theimageofprisonersincavesrecallsthedescriptionofpeopleboundinthe

caveinPlato’sRepublic514AB.13:“Thepoisoning…”:or“yourcrowningachievement,the

beatingbyyourenemies”(literally,“thebeatingofyourenemies”).16–17:Partiallyrestored;

theconclusionof17cannotbereconstructedwithanycertainty.“Thefilthyclothingyouare

wearing”isthebody,whichisputonandtakenofflikeanarticleofclothing.CompareSecret

BookofJames7:13andthenote;GospelofThomas21;37;SecretBookofJohn11:1–6.20–21:

Comparetheroleofthesun(andmoon)in7:27and8:1–6.22:CompareGospelofThomas

113andthenote.

8:1–6:

Revelationaboutsalvationandlight.1:The“sweetsmell”ofsalvationisgrantedto

people,andtotheelements.OntheelementsseeSecretBookofJohn11:3–4;13:10Herespirit

issubstitutedforfireasoneofthefourelements,sincefireischaracteristicofpassion,lust,

anddestructionthroughoutthepresenttext.2–6:ParableoftheGrapevineandtheWeeds.

Whatlivesinthelightgrowsvigorously,andrulestriumphantlyoverthedarkness.Compare

alsoGospelofThomas40andthenote.

9:1–7:

Conclusionoftherevelation.1:Thetwelfthandfinalwoe:compare7:1–27.Several

linesaretoobadlydamagedtoberestored.3:CompareMatthew5:11=Luke6:22;Gospelof

Thomas68;69.4:CompareLuke6:21=Matthew5:4.“Withouthope,”thatis,withoutthe

hopeofsalvation.5:“Watchandpray,”compareMark14:38=Matthew26:41.Onemust

escapethegrimrealitiesofincarnationandreincarnation;compare4:17.6–7:Onthestages

intheprocessofsalvation(pray,findrest,reign),see4:13;GospelofThomas2.

TheSecretBookofJohn

NagHammadiCodexII,tractate1

page1,line1,topage32,line9

1:1

:Incipit,orOpening.Whilethetitleofthetext(SecretBook[Apokryphon]ofJohn)isgiven

inthemanuscripts,thepoorlypreservedincipitmayalsorefertothetextas“theteachingof

theSavior”andpossibly“therevelation”(iftherestorationadoptedhereisaccurate).

1:2–18:

IntroductiontotherevelatoryappearanceoftheSavior.2:JohnthesonofZebedeeis

confronted by a Pharisee. The name Arimanios is probably taken from the evil spirit of

Zoroastrianfame,Ahriman.3:CompareSecretBookofJames4:13;5:3;9:8;John17:5.5:One

version of the text (Berlin Gnostic Codex 8502) specifically states that John went onto a

mountain.Innumerousancientandmoderntraditions,visionsandreligiousexperiencesare

described as taking place on mountains, where one is in solitude, removed from mundane

affairs,andclosetothedivine.6–8:Alistofquestionssummarizingwhatonemustknowfor

salvation. Other Gnostic texts also include such lists of questions; compare the indirect

questions in the Book of Thomas 1:3, as well as in the present text, 1:17. Here the list

functionsasatableofcontentsforthetext.7–8:“Eternalrealm,”aeonhereandelsewherein

thetranslation.9:Thegloriousvisionoftheluminousbeingisaccompaniedbyapocalyptic

phenomena:theheavensopen(compareMark1:10=Matthew3:16=Luke3:21;John1:51;

Acts7:55–56;Revelation4:1;19:11)andtheworldisilluminatedandshaken(compareSecret

BookofJames10:2;Mark13:8,24–26=Matthew24:7,29–30=Luke21:11,25–27).10–13:

TheluminousfigureoftheSaviorchangesfromoneformtoanother.15–16:Revelatory“I

am” statements (compare the Gospel of John and numerous Gnostic texts; also Matthew

28:19–20),andthedisclosureofthedivinetriadofFather,Mother,Child.17:See1:6–8and

the note; Book of Thomas 1:3. 18: “The unshakable race,” the phrase used to describe the

Gnosticgroup.Thesepeoplecannotbeshaken,anddonotwaver,intheirquestfortruth.See

also14:2;15:14;16:18.

2:1–22:

RevelationabouttheOne.Aclassicstatementofdivinetranscendence,formulated

withtermsofnegation.ComparethevianegativaoftheUpanishads,withtheinsistencethat

theUltimateisnetineti,“notthis,notthat.”2:TheOnemaybeconsideredasFather,thefirst

inthedivinetriad.3:“TheinvisibleSpirit,”acommondesignationfortheOne(compare3:5,

7,9,12,13,14,15,16,etc.).Itisbeyonddeity.10:Itisbeyondperfection,oranyother

finitecategory.13:Itisbeyondbeing,asthegroundofallbeing.14:Itisthewhollyother.

18: Compare Secret Book of James 1:1. 20: Finally, it can only be said that the One is in

silence,atrest,beforeall.ThedivineSilenceisacommonimageinmysticaltraditions.22:

Several lines of the text are rather badly damaged, and a portion cannot be reconstructed

withconfidence.ThisversesuggeststhattheineffableFathercanbeknowninalimitedway

onlybecausearevealerhascomeforthfromtheFather.CompareJohn1:18.

3:1–18:

RevelationaboutthedivineMother.1–2:Partlyrestored.ThePerfectOne(text:“it”

or“he”)gazesintothewaterandfallsinlovewithitsownimage,muchasNarcissusdoesin

Greekmythology(compareOvid,Metamorphoses3.402–510).Contrastthebastardizationof

theprocessinthecreativeactivitiesofYaldabaoth,8:14–15alongwith9:1.3:Astheresultof

thislove,theFather’sMindproducesaThought(Ennoia),whoisthedivineMother.Forother

examples of such acts of independent procreation on the part of father-gods, compare

especiallytheGreekgodZeus,whoproducesAthena,thedaughterofMetis(“Wisdom,”or

“Skill”),fromhisheadalongsidetheRiver(orLake)Triton(seeHesiod,Theogony886–900,

924–29); also the Egyptian god Atum, who creates by means of masturbation. 4: She is

Forethought, Pronoia. 6: Barbelo, a name probably of Hebrew derivation but of uncertain

meaning, perhaps something like “God in Four” (that is, the tetragrammaton). 8: “The

commonParent,”Metropator,sometimestranslatedas“grandfather”butpossiblyunderstood

here as “Mother-Father,” or androgynous Parent. “Triple” and “male” are symbolic terms

employedtoemphasizethecompleteandheavenlycharacterofBarbelo.CompareGospelof

Thomas113andthenote,on“male”asatermdescribingwhatisheavenly.9–16:Withthe

agreement of the invisible Spirit, four spiritual beings come from Thought (Barbelo):

Foreknowledge,Imperishability,LifeEternal,andTruth.17:TogetherwithBarbelothesefour

constitutetherealm(aeon)oftheFive.18:TheFive,beingandrogynous,canalsobetermed

theTen.ThisrealmistheFatherinemanation.

4:1–16:

RevelationaboutthedivineChild.1–3:Pure,spiritualintercoursebetweentheFather

andBarbeloproducesaChildoflight.5–6:TheChildisanointedbytheFather(comparethe

Messiah, or Christ, as the anointed one). 7–8: Mind, Nous, joins the Child as a co-worker.

“Christ,”or“theGoodOne”:comparetheanointingwithgoodnessin4:5.9:Creationbythe

word (compare Genesis 1; John 1:1–3; Hebrews 11:3) may now take place. 11: “The self-

producedGod”:thedivineAutogenes,orself-begottenone.Forthegeneralwording,compare

John1:3.15:Genesis1:26;Psalm8,especially8:5–8;1Corinthians15:24–28.16:“Aname

greater than every name”: compare Philippians 2:9; Ephesians 1:21; Hebrews 1:4. This

exalteduniverseistherealmofthedivine;compare1:8.

5:1–17:

Revelation about the four stars. 1: The Child produces the stars by means of a

creativegaze.3–6:Thefourstars(Armozel,Oroiel,Daveithai,Eleleth)eacharerepresented

bythreepersonages;“Afterthought”(verse4)isatranslationofEpinoia.Thetwelfthandlast

ofthesepersonagesisSophia,“Wisdom.”OnWisdomintheBibleseeProverbs8;Matthew

11:19=Luke7:35;Luke11:49(contrastMatthew23:34);1Corinthians1:18–2:13;Romans

11:33;Colossians2:3;Ephesians3:10;andvariouspassagesintheWisdomofSolomonand

Sirach.InseveraloftheChristianpassagesthereisacloserelationshipbetweenWisdomand

Christ.9–11:ThecreationofPigeradamas,“AdamtheStranger,”where“stranger”(Hebrew

ger)designatesonewhoisanalienandsojournerinthisworldbutathomeinheaven.See

Secret Book of James 7:4–6. 12: Compare Gospel of Thomas 18; 49; 50; 1 Corinthians 8:6;

Romans11:36;Colossians1:16;Hebrews2:10.13:“Thethree”:compare1:16.14:Seth:see

13:15–16; Genesis 4:25–26; 5:1–8. 15: “The family [or seed] of Seth”: the spiritual

descendentsoftheluminousraceabove.Compare“theunshakablerace”(1:18andthenote).

6:1–9:

RevelationaboutthefallofSophia.ComparetheGreekgoddessHera,whoimitates

Zeusandbringsforthachildbyherself.Accordingtooneversionofthemyth,thechildisthe

terriblemonsterTyphon(HomericHymntoPythianApollo300–62).Accordingtoanother,itis

the lame god Hephaestus, whom Hera evicts from Olympus and sends down to this world

below(Hesiod,Theogony924–29).Theartisanamongthegods,Hephaestusisrepresentedin

Egyptian mythology by his counterpart Ptah, the creator-god and divine craftsman of

Memphis.1:TheprocreativeactisSophia’sownresponsibility,yettheinvisibleSpiritalso

reflectsuponit.Thustheauthorstruggleswiththeissueoftheodicy.Evildoesfinallyderive

fromthedivinerealmabove,butthescandalofthisadmissionismitigatedbythesuggestion

thatSophia,asthelastemanationofthedivine(5:6),madeaninnocentmistake(compare

12:9),butnotwithouttheforeknowledgeoftheinvisibleSpirit.5:Sometexts(forexample,

theversionoftheSecretBookofJohninBerlinGnosticCodex8502)refertothisasSophia’s

abortion.6: A number of ancient texts depict the demiurge with leonine features; also see

GospelofThomas7.8:“MotheroftheLiving”:Genesis3:20(compare,below,12:9plus10:12;

13:6). 9: Yaldabaoth: the meaning of the name is unknown; one suggestion is “Child of

Chaos.”

7:1–30:

Revelation about the establishment of the cosmic bureaucracy. 1: Yaldabaoth steals

fromhisMother(afurthervindicationoftheinnocenceofSophia;see6:1andthenote)and

moves away. 3: “Mindlessness,” Aponoia. 4–7: The twelve cosmic authorities probably

correspondtothesignsoftheZodiac.SomeofthenamesarefamiliarfromtheHebrewBible

(Adonaios, Sabaoth, Cain, Abel); most of the others clearly are derived from Hebrew. 8:

“Sevenkings,”forthesevenplanetaryandastralspherespositedbyancientastronomers.9:

The spiritual light from the Mother remains with Yaldabaoth alone. 12: Saklas, perhaps

“Fool.”Samael,perhaps“BlindGod.”13:Isaiah45:5–6;46:9;compare7:29below.14:The

numberofangelscorrespondstothenumberofdaysinthesolaryear;compare9:35.16–18:

The list of seven potentates represents the days in a week and in part repeats the list of

authorities in 7:4–7. “Yao” is a common form of the ineffable Hebrew name of God. “Yao

Sabaoth”reflectstheHebrewfor“theLordofHosts.”27–28:Thecosmicbureaucracybelow

isanimitationoftheheavenlyrealmsabove.Yaldabaothhasthepowertocopytheheavenly

pattern because of the Mother’s spirit within him. 29: Exodus 20:5; 34:14; Isaiah 45: 5–6;

46:9;compare7:13above.

8:1–15:

Revelation about the repentance of Sophia and the appearance of Humanity. 2–4:

Genesis1:2:thespiritofGodmovingabovethewaters.6–8:Sophiarepentsandispartially

restored. She receives some divine Fullness as her lover comes to her at last. 9: Her final

restorationwilloccurwhenthespiritshelosttoYaldabaothisretrieved.Untilthen,sheisto

dwellintheninthspherejustaboveYaldabaoth,whooccupiestheeighthsphereandthus

rules over the seven kings below him (7:8). 13: In Coptic the pronouns used here are

masculine,probablybecause“Parent”and“firstHumanity”aremasculineterms.14–15:Ina

parodyoftheoriginalcreativeactofthePerfectOne(3:1–2),Yaldabaothandhisauthorities

lookatthewatersabovetheearth(compareGenesis1:7),andfromthebottomtheyseethe

imageofHumanity.

9:1–36:

Revelationaboutthecreationofthepsychicalhumanbody.Thelistsofangelsinthe

translationhavebeencompiledbymeansofacomparisonoftheversionsinCodexIIand

CodexIV.1:Genesis1:26.7–17:Thepsychicalbodyisabalanced,androgynousbody,with

bothfemaleandmalesexualorgans(compareverse15).Thenamesofsomeoftheangelsare

recognizablyHebraic.Theseversescouldalsobetranslatedasfollows:“Thefirstangelbegan

by creating the head: Eteraphaope-Abron; another created the top of the head:

Meniggesstroeth;anothercreatedthebrain:Asterechme;therighteye:Thaspomocha”;andso

forth, through verse 17. This translation would solve the problem posed by the awkward

conclusiontoverse17(thus:“itstoes:Miamai;thetoenails:Labernioum”).18:Compare7:4–

6.19–34:Additionallistsofangels,demons,anddemonicpassions.Someofthenamesseem

Semitic;afewarefamiliar(verse24,forexample).35:See7:14.Asincertainmagicaltexts,

thenumberofangelsandthenumberofpartsinthehumanbodyisthreehundredsixty-five.

36: “The Book of Zoroaster”: compare the text Zostrianos from Codex VIII of the Nag

Hammadilibrary,aswellasPorphyry’sLifeofPlotinus16,wheretheauthorreferstoother

textswrittenunderthenameofthePersiansageZoroaster,includingaBookofZoroaster.

10:1–14:

Revelationaboutthesalvificsubterfuge.1:WithoutthespiritofSophiathepsychical

humanbodyhasnovitality.3:“Fivestars”:probablythefourstarsof5:1–8,togetherwith

theChild(Christ)whoproducedthem.6:Genesis2:7.8:Onmovementastheresultofthe

divinespiritwithin,see14:9;GospelofThomas50.9–10:Adam,enlightenedwithspiritual

power,isthrowndownintothedepthsofthecosmos.12:Afterthought,orEpinoia,appears

again,nowinordertorestorethedimmedlightbelowtothefullnessoflightabove.Compare

Genesis2:18–22;3:20.“Life”isZoe,Eve.13:The“wayofascent,”therestorationofthelight,

followsthe“wayofdescent,”thefallofthelight.

11:1–23:

Revelation about the imprisonment of humanity. 3: The four elements, with “fiery

winds”replacingair;compare11:4and13:10(windinsteadofair);alsoBookofThomas8:1

(spiritinsteadoffire).Thenoiseisthatoftheworkshopwhereastatueorafetterisbeing

forged.4:TherulersmanufactureanotherbodyforAdam,amortalbodyofflesh.5:Thebody

astheprisonortombofthesoulisawell-knownPlatonicandOrphicdoctrine.6: Adam’s

plightistheparadigmofhumanestrangementfromthedivinerealm.8:Genesis2:8–9,16.

10:Genesis2:9.12–13:Therulers’TreeofLifeisasdeadlyastheyare.14:Genesis2:9,17;

3:3. As also at 12:11, Afterthought assumes the form of a tree, just as Daphne in Greek

mythologychangesintoalaureltree(Ovid,Metamorphoses1.452–567).SeetheRealityofthe

Rulers (Nag Hammadi Codex II, tractate 4), page 89, lines 17–28; and On the Origin of the

World(tractate5),page116,lines25–33.15:Genesis3:5–7.17:Genesis3:1–5.22:Genesis

2:21. 23: Isaiah 6:10 (quoted in Matthew 13:14–15; John 12:40; Acts 28:26–27; compare

Mark4:12=Matthew13:13=Luke8:10).“Thefirstruler”:thetexthasonly“he”or“it”;

possiblyread“Thusitissaidintheprophet.”

12:1–14:

Revelation about the separation of Adam and Eve. 1–4: Genesis 2:21–22. 6–8:

Genesis 2:23–24. 9: See 6:8; 10:12; Genesis 3:20. Here Sophia takes the role assigned to

Afterthoughtin10:12–14.Ontheircloseidentification,see6:1.Sophiaisboththeonewhois

savedandtheonewhosaves.10:“TheLiving,”theGnostics,11:See11:14andthenote.The

Savior (“I”) appears as a heavenly bird (the eagle is the royal bird of Zeus) to bring the

humanbeingstoknowledge.ComparetheheavenlyletterintheHymnofthePearlwithinthe

ActsofThomas:thelettersentfromthekingoftheEast(thatis,God)fliesasaneagle,and

uponlandingitbecomesanenlighteningvoiceofrevelation.13:Genesis3:7.

13:1–18:

RevelationabouttheabuseofAdamandEve.1:Genesis3:14–19.2:Compare10:2–

4. The mystery of which Yaldabaoth is unaware is the heavenly decision to manipulate

cosmicaffairsforthepurposeoftherecoveryofthespirituallight.4:Genesis3:23–24.7:The

rapeofEveisalsodiscussedintheRealityoftheRulers, page 89, lines 17–31; and On the

OriginoftheWorld,page116,line8,topage117,line28.Elohim(Coptic:Eloim)isHebrew

for“God”;Yahweh(Coptic:Yawe)istheineffablenameofGodinHebrew.11:CainandAbel

(alsothenamesoftwooftheauthoritiesofYaldabaoth,7:5–6;9:18)thusarenotchildrenof

AdamandEve,butofYaldabaothandEve.CompareGenesis4:1–2.14:“Bodilytomb”:see

11:5.15:Genesis4:25;5:3;ontheheavenlychildnamedSeth,seeabove,5:14.17:“Waterof

forgetfulness”: compare the water of the River Lethe in the Greek conception of the

underworld.IfthethirstysouldrinksofthewaterofLethe,itforgetsaboutitspreviouslives

andmaybereincarnatedinyetanotherbody.18:Thedivinepurposebehindthevicissitudes

ofhumanlifeisdeclaredonceagain.

14:1–22:

Questions and revelatory answers about the destinies of human beings. Throughout

thissectionthesoul(psyche)isdepicted,intheusualfashionofGreekandGnosticliterature,

as a woman. Compare the myth of Psyche and Eros (or Cupid, Love) in Apuleius’

Metamorphoses books 4–6, and the Gnostic version of the myth in the Nag Hammadi text

Exegesis on the Soul (Codex II, tractate 6). 2: “The unshakable race”: see 1:18. 3–6: The

spiritualpeoplewholivefromabove.“Thosewhoreceivethem”(verse5)areprobablythe

ImperishableOnesoftheheavenlyrealms(see13:18;BookofThomas3:8),orelsethecosmic

rulerswhotakebacktheflesh(seeGospelofThomas21;86).Forparallelstothemotifsin

verse6,compareWisdomofSolomon4:2;1Corinthians9:24–27;13:7;1Timothy6:12;2

Timothy4:7–8;Hebrews12:1.7–13:Soulswithspiritualpossibilitieswhoturntothelifeof

the spirit. On power descending upon everyone (verse 9), see 10:1–8. 14–20: Souls with

spiritualpossibilitieswhoindulgethecontemptiblespirit.Aftergoingthroughreincarnation

(verse17;compareBookofThomas4:17;9:5),suchasoulmayfinallybesavedbyfollowing

those who live the life of the spirit (verse 20). On the soul becoming youthful again and

returningtotheMother’swomb(literally“nature,”verse18),compareJohn3:4;Gospel of

Thomas 22. 21–22: Souls who reject knowledge. Such people, who have committed

blasphemyagainsttheSpirit(compareMark3:28–29=Matthew12:31–32=Luke12:10;

GospelofThomas44),willbepunishedeternally.

15:1–25:

Revelation about the final plots against humanity. 6–10: The sexual violation of

SophiaandsubsequentproductionofFate(Heimarmene),theinexorablepowerofterrestrial

andastrologicalbondage.11–15:Thefirstrulersendsagreatfloodupontheworld.Compare

Genesis6:5–8:22;7:7iscitedinverse13.“Thosewhowerestrangers”toenlightenedNoah

(verse12)arethosewhoidentifywiththisworldbutareestrangedfromtheheavenlyrealm

(contrast5:9–11andthenote).On“theunshakablerace”(verse14),seealso1:18andthe

note.16–25:Theangelsofthefirstrulertakehumanwomen,andleadthemintochildbirth

and enslavement. Compare Genesis 6:1–4; 1 Enoch 6–11. This process, the text concludes,

continuestothepresentday(verses23and25).

16:1–16:

Hymn of the Savior. The Savior claims to be Forethought, and identifies with

severaldescentsofForethoughtintothisworld.WhoisthisSaviorwhorevealsself?Inthe

broader context of the Secret Book of John the Savior is Christ. As Christ, the Savior who

descends into the world may be compared with Christ descending into hell in other early

Christianthought(forexample,1Peter3:18–20,ortheApostles’Creed).TheHymnofthe

Saviormayalsobeanalyzedindependently,however,sincethishymnisaseparablesection

ofthetext,foundonlyinthelongerversionsinCodexIIandCodexIV.Takenbyitself,the

hymnmaybeunderstoodtoproclaimthattheSavioristheheavenlyMother:Forethought,

Afterthought,Sophia.OntherelationshipbetweenWisdomandChristinChristiantexts,see

above,thenoteto5:3–6.MentionmayalsobemadeofsimilarconnectionsbetweenWisdom

andChristinotherChristianGnosticdocuments.1:TheSaviorisessentiallyidenticalwith

thesubsequentoffspringoflight.3–4:Thefirstdescent,exemplifiedintheearlieraccountsof

SophiaandAdam,constitutesthefallandincarcerationofthelighthiddenintheworldand

the body below. The ignorant powers of this world do not recognize the spiritual light;

compare10:6.5–8:Theseconddescentisundertakeninordertobeginatask:therestoration

andsalvationofthelight.ComparetheprominentsavingrolesofAfterthoughtandSophiain

theearlieraccounts,andthesendingofLifetohelpthelightbelow(10:11–14;12:1,5,9–10).

Life is snatched out of this world, however, at an appropriate time, 13:6. 9–16: The third

descent involves the sending of the heavenly call to rouse the prototypal sleeper from

ignorancetotheknowledgeofsalvation.OnthedescriptionoftheSaviorwhoisissuingthe

call(verse10),seeJohn1:14.

16:17–19:

ConclusiontotherevelatoryappearanceoftheSavior.17:Therevelationconcludes

withtheSaviorannouncingthereturntotheheavenlyrealm(compareSecretBookofJames

9:8,12;10:1,7;BookofThomas2:1).18–19:Onthecarerequiredforthecommunicationof

theseteachings,seeSecretBookofJames1:3;Revelation22:18–19.On“theunshakablerace”

see1:18andthenote.

16:20–21:

Close of the text. Compare Secret Book of James 10:1, 6–7. John repeats the

mysteryoftheSaviortothedisciples.Themanuscripts(CodexIIandCodexIV)addafew

finalwordsofChristiandevotion.

Introduction

AlthoughthenumberofbooksandarticlespublishedonGnosticismandtheNagHammadi

library is large, a professional bibliographer, David M. Scholer, has facilitated the task of

locatingtherelevantliteratureinNagHammadistudiesbypublishingabookthatprovidesa

classifiedlistingofsuchworks:NagHammadiBibliography1948–1969(NagHammadiStudies

1; Leiden: Brill, 1971). Updated annually in the autumn issue of the periodical Novum

Testamentum,Scholer’sbibliographysoonwillappearinasecondvolume.

Several fine introductions to Gnosticism and the Nag Hammadi texts are available,

including Hans Jonas, The Gnostic Religion (Boston: Beacon, 1963); Elaine H. Pagels, The

GnosticGospels(NewYork:RandomHouse,1979);JamesM.Robinson’s“Introduction”toThe

NagHammadiLibraryinEnglish,ed.byRobinsonandMarvinW.Meyer(SanFrancisco:Harper

& Row; Leiden: Brill, 1977), pp. 1–25; and Kurt Rudolph, Die Gnosis (Leipzig: Koehler &

Amelang, 1977), published in English translation as Gnosis (San Francisco: Harper & Row,

1983). Other extremely helpful analyses may be found in James M. Robinson and Helmut

Koester,TrajectoriesthroughEarlyChristianity(Philadelphia:Fortress,1971).Forasurveyof

thearcheologicalworkundertakennearthesiteofthediscoveryoftheNagHammadilibrary,

seeespeciallythearticlesinthefall1979issueofBiblicalArcheologist.

The translations given here are based upon the Coptic texts as presented in two sets of

volumesbeingproducedbytheCopticGnosticLibraryProjectoftheInstituteforAntiquity

and Christianity, Claremont Graduate School: The Facsimile Edition of the Nag Hammadi

Codices,publishedundertheauspicesoftheDepartmentofAntiquitiesoftheArabRepublic

ofEgyptinconjunctionwithUNESCO(Leiden:Brill,1972–),withmagnificentphotographsof

the pages, covers, and cartonnage of the Nag Hammadi codices; and The Coptic Gnostic

Library,asubseriesofNagHammadiStudies(Leiden:Brill,1975–),withCoptictexts,English

translations,notes,andindices.ThethreevolumesofTheCopticGnosticLibrarythatpertainto

ourfourtextsareallforthcoming:NagHammadiCodexI(TheJungCodex),ed.byHaroldW.

Attridge;NagHammadiCodexII,2–7,ed.byBentleyLayton;andNagHammadiCodicesII,1,

III,1andIV,1withPapyrusBerolinensis8502,2:TheApocryphonofJohn,ed.byFrederikWisse.

Ontheuseofinclusivelanguage,seeJoannHaugerud,TheWordforUs(Seattle:Coalition

on Women and Religion, 1977); Letty M. Russell, The Liberating Word (Philadelphia:

Westminster, 1976); She Said/He Said: An Annotated Bibliography of Sex Differences in

Language,Speech,andNonverbalCommunication,compiledbyNancyHenleyandBarrieThome

(Pittsburgh:Know,1975);andAnInclusiveLanguageLectionary:ReadingsforYearA(National

Council of Churches; Atlanta: John Knox; Philadelphia: Westminster; New York: Pilgrim,

1983).

FordiscussionsofsayingsofJesusintheSecretBookofJames,theGospelofThomas,and

theBookofThomas, see particularly Helmut Koester, “Apocryphal and Canonical Gospels,”

Harvard Theological Review 73 (1980) 105–30; “Dialog und Spruchüberlieferung in den

gnostischen Texten von Nag Hammadi,” Evangelische Theologie 39 (1979) 532–56; “Gnostic

WritingsasWitnessesfortheDevelopmentoftheSayingsTradition,”inThe Rediscovery of

Gnosticism, ed. by Bentley Layton (Leiden: Brill, 1980), vol. 1, pp. 238–61; Hans-Martin

Schenke,“TheBookofThomas(NHCII.7):ARevisionofaPseudepigraphicalLetterofJacob

theContender,”apaperpresentedduringtheautumnof1982andrecentlypublishedinThe

NewTestamentandGnosis,ed.byA.J.M.WedderburnandA.H.B.Logan(Edinburgh:T.&T.

Clark, 1983); and Charles W. Hedrick, “Kingdom Sayings and Parables of Jesus in The

Apocryphon of James: Tradition and Redaction,” New Testament Studies 29 (1983) 1–24.

Koester also considers the Nag Hammadi text entitled Dialogue of the Savior (Codex III,

tractate5)tobesignificantforthedevelopmentoftraditionshavingtodowithsayingsof

Jesus. This text is not included in the present volume of translations because of its

fragmentarycharacter;itmaybereadinTheNagHammadiLibraryinEnglish,pp.229–38,and

isreprintedinTheOtherGospels,ed.byRonCameron(Philadelphia:Westminster,1982),pp.

38–48. On methods and criteria to be employed for identifying teachings of the historical

Jesus, see Norman Perrin and Dennis C. Duling, The New Testament: An Introduction (New

York:HarcourtBraceJovanovich,1982),pp.397–429.

OnthecharacterofJewishChristianityanditsrelationshiptoGnosticism,seeAlexander

Böhlig, “Der jüdische und judenchristliche Hintergrund in gnostischen Texten von Nag

Hammadi,”inLeOriginidelloGnosticismo,ed.byUgoBianchi(Leiden:Brill,1967),pp.109–

40;GillesQuispel,“GnosticismandtheNewTestament,”VigiliaeChristianae19(1965)65–85;

Hans-JoachimSchoeps,JewishChristianity(Philadelphia:Fortress,1969);andR.McL.Wilson,

“JewishChristianityandGnosticism,”RecherchesdeScienceReligieuse60(1972)261–72.

TheSecretBookofJames

ThemostsignificantstudytodateontheSecretBookofJamesistheelegant—andexpensive—

FrencheditionbyMichelMalinine,Henri-CharlesPuech,GillesQuispel,WalterC.Till,and

RodolpheKasser,withR.McL.WilsonandJanZandee,EpistulaIacobiApocrypha(Zürichand

Stuttgart: Rascher, 1968). Other English translations of the text are those of Francis E.

WilliamsinTheNagHammadiLibraryinEnglish,pp.29–36;andRonCameroninThe Other

Gospels,pp.55–64.Amongthevariouscontributionsconcerningthisdocument,thefollowing

areimportant:JamesBrashlerandMarvinW.Meyer,“JamesintheNagHammadiLibrary”

(unpublishedpaperpresentedatthe1979annualmeetingoftheSocietyofBiblicalLiterature,

New York); S. Kent Brown, “James: A Religio-Historical Study of the Relations between

Jewish,Gnostic,andCatholicChristianityintheEarlyPeriodthroughanInvestigationofthe

TraditionsaboutJamestheLord’sBrother”(Ph.D.dissertation,BrownUniversity,1972);Ron

Cameron, “Sayings Traditions in the Apocryphon of James” (Ph.D. dissertation, Harvard

University,1983;forthcomingintheseriesHarvardTheologicalStudies);KaikhohenKipgen,

“GnosticisminEarlyChristianity:AStudyoftheEpistulaIacobiApocryphawithParticular

Reference to Salvation” (Ph.D. dissertation, Oxford University, 1975); Pheme Perkins,

“JohannineTraditionsinAp.Jas.(NHCI,2),”JournalofBiblicalLiterature101(1982)403–14;

Henri-Charles Puech, “The Apocryphon of James (Apocryphon Jacobi),” in New Testament

Apocrypha, ed. by Edgar Hennecke, Wilhelm Schneemelcher, and R. McL. Wilson

(Philadelphia: Westminster, 1963), vol. 1, pp. 333–38; Hans-Martin Schenke, “Der

JakobusbriefausdemCodexJung,”OrientalistischeLiteraturzeitung66(1971)117–30;W.C.

vanUnnik,“TheOriginoftheRecentlyDiscovered‘ApocryphonJacobi,’”VigiliaeChristianae

10 (1956) 149–56; and Jan Zandee, “Gnostische trekken in een Apocryphe Brief van

Jacobus,”NederlandsTheologischTijdschrift17(1963)401–22.

TheGospelofThomas

NotextintheNagHammadilibraryhaspromptedmorediscussionandreflectionthanthe

Gospel of Thomas. Currently the most accessible edition of the Coptic text with English

translationisthatofAntoineGuillaumont,Henri-CharlesPuech,GillesQuispel,WalterC.Till,

andYassah‘Abdal-Masih,TheGospelaccordingtoThomas(NewYork:Harper&Row;Leiden:

Brill,1959).TwootherEnglishtranslationsthatareinprintarebyThomasO.Lambdin,in

TheNagHammadiLibraryinEnglish,pp.117–30(reprintedinTheOtherGospels,pp.23–37);

andbyDavidR.CartlidgeandDavidL.Dungan,intheirDocumentsfortheStudyoftheGospels

(Philadelphia:Fortress,1980),pp.25–35.AgoodstudyoftheGospelofThomasinrelationto

theOxyrhynchusPapyrusfragmentsisbyM.Marcovich,“TextualCriticismontheGospelof

Thomas,”JournalofTheologicalStudies20n.s.(1969)53–74.

Some of the most helpful books and commentaries on the Gospel of Thomas are the

following: Stevan Davies, The Gospel of Thomas and Christian Wisdom (New York: Seabury,

1983);BertilGärtner,TheTheologyoftheGospelaccordingtoThomas(NewYork:Harper&

Row,1961);RobertM.GrantandDavidNoelFreedman,TheSecretSayingsofJesus(Garden

City, N.Y.: Doubleday, 1960); Jacques-É. Ménard, L’Évangile selon Thomas (Nag Hammadi

Studies5;Leiden:Brill,1975);andWolfgangSchrage,DasVerhältnisdesThomas-Evangeliums

zur synoptischen Tradition und zu den koptischen Evangelienübersetzungen (Berlin: Töpelmann,

1964).ForashorterbutsubstantialintroductiontotheGospelofThomas,seeHenri-Charles

Puech, “The Gospel of Thomas,” in New Testament Apocrypha, vol. 1, pp. 278–307. Gilles

Quispelalsoprovidessomeinterestingperspectivesinhislongreviewarticle“TheGospelof

Thomas Revisited,” in Colloaue international sur les Textes de Nag Hammadi, ed. by Bernard

Barc(BibliothèquecoptedeNagHammadi;Quebec:L’UniversitéLaval,1981),pp.218–66.

For more particular problems in the text, see such studies as Harold W. Attridge, “The

OriginalTextofGos.Thorn.,Saying30,”BulletinoftheAmericanSocietyofPapyrologists 16

(1979) 153–57; “Greek Equivalents of Two Coptic Phrases: CG I,1.65,9–10 and CG

II,2.43.26,” Bulletin of the American Society of Papyrologists 18 (1981) 27–32; Howard M.

Jackson, “The Lion Becomes Man: The Gnostic Leontomorphic Creator and the Platonic

Tradition”(Ph.D.dissertation,ClaremontGraduateSchool,1983);A.F.J.Klijn,“The‘Single

One’intheGospelofThomas,”Journal of Biblical Literature 81 (1962) 271–78; Marvin W.

Meyer,“MakingMaryMale:TheCategories‘Male’and‘Female’intheGospelofThomas,”

NewTestamentStudies(forthcoming);andPhilippVielhauer,“ANAPAUSIS:Zumgnostischen

HintergrunddesThomasevangeliums,”inApophoreta:FestschriftfürErnstHaenchenzuseinem

siebzigsten Geburtstag am 10. Dezember 1964, ed. by Walther Eltester and Franz Heinrich

Kettler(Berlin:Töpelmann,1964),pp.281–99.

TheBookofThomas

ThemostcompletestudyoftheBookofThomasisthatofJohnD.Turner,TheBookofThomas

theContenderfromCodexIIoftheCairoGnosticLibraryfromNagHammadi(CGII,7)(Missoula,

Mont.:Scholars,1975),aneditionwithtext,translation,commentary,andindices.Turnerhas

alsopublishedarevisedEnglishtranslationinTheNagHammadiLibraryinEnglish,pp.118–

94.TwostudiesbymembersoftheBerlinArbeitskreisareofconsiderablevalue:Dankwart

Kirchner, “Das Buch des Thomas: Die siebte Schrift aus Nag-Hammadi-Codex II eingeleitet

und übersetzt vom Berliner Arbeitskreis für koptisch-gnostische Schriften,” Theologische

Literaturzeitung102(1977)793–804;andHans-MartinSchenke,“TheBookofThomas(NHC

II.7): A Revision of a Pseudepigraphical Letter of Jacob the Contender,” part of Schenke’s

continuingworkonthistext.

TheSecretBookofJohn

FourdifferenttextsoftheSecretBookofJohnexist,threeintheNagHammadilibrary(Codex

II,tractate1;CodexIII,tractate1;andCodexIV,tractate1),andoneintheBerlinGnostic

Codex 8502 (tractate 2). The present translation is based mainly on the longer version as

preserved in Nag Hammadi Codex II. Reconstructions have been made by means of a

comparisonwiththeothertextrepresentingthelongerversion(CodexIV),aswellasthetwo

textsrepresentingtheshorterversion.Suchacomparisonisespeciallyvitalfortheopening

pagesoftheCodexIItext,whicharenotwellpreserved.ThethreetextsoftheSecretBookof

JohnfromtheNagHammadicodicesarepublishedintheGermaneditionofMartinKrause

andPahorLabib,DiedreiVersionendesApokryphondesJohannesimkoptischenMuseumzuAlt-

Kairo (Abhandlungen des Deutschen Archäologischen Instituts Kairo; Wiesbaden:

Harrassowitz,1962).ThetextfromCodexIIisalsoavailableintheunreliableEnglishedition

ofSørenGiversen,ApocryphonJohannis(ActaTheologicaDanica;Copenhagen:Munksgaard,

1963).ForanexcellenteditionofBerlinGnosticCodex8502,seeDiegnostischenSchriftendes

koptischenPapyrusBerolinensis8502, ed.by Walter C.Till andHans-Martin Schenke(Texte

undUntersuchungen;Berlin:Akademie,1972).AdditionalEnglishtranslationsoftheSecret

BookofJohnincludeatranslationbyMartinKrauseoftheBerlinGnosticCodexversion,in

Gnosis, ed. by Werner Foerster (Oxford: Clarendon, 1972), vol. 1, pp. 100–20 (published

along with a closely related heresiological account written by Irenaeus of Lyons, Against

Heresies1.29.1–4);andatranslationbyFrederikWisseprimarilyoftheCodexIIversion,in

TheNagHammadiLibraryinEnglish,pp.98–116.

For introductions to the Secret Book of John one may consult Henri-Charles Puech, “The

ApocryphonofJohn,”inNewTestamentApocrypha,vol.1,pp.314–31;andFrederikWisse,

“ApocryphonofJohn,”inTheInterpreter’sDictionaryoftheBible(Nashville:Abingdon,1976),

supplementary vol., pp. 481–82. On the Sophia myth, see James E. Goehring, “A Classical

Influence on the Gnostic Sophia Myth,” Vigiliae Christianae 35 (1981) 16–23; George W.

MacRae, “The Jewish Background of the Gnostic Sophia Myth,” Novum Testamentum 12

(1970)86–101;MarvinW.Meyer,TheLetterofPetertoPhilip(Chico,Calif.:Scholars,1981),

pp.121–28;andG.C.Stead,“TheValentinianMythofSophia,”JournalofTheologicalStudies

20n.s.(1969)75–104.OnPigeradamas,andAfterthoughtbecomingatree,seeHowardM.

Jackson,“Geradamas,theCelestialStranger,”NewTestamentStudies27(1981)385–94;and

BirgerA.Pearson,“‘SheBecameaTree’—ANotetoCGII,4:89,25–26,”HarvardTheological

Review69(1976)413–15.

AbouttheTranslator

M

ARVIN

W. M

EYER

is a graduate of Calvin Theological Seminary and Claremont Graduate

School. He has held positions at Barnard College, the University of California at Santa

Barbara,ClaremontGraduateSchool,andChapmanCollege,wherehecurrentlyteaches.In

additiontospendingseveralseasonsinarcheologicalworknearNagHammadi,Egypt,and

servingasaneditorofTheNagHammadiLibraryinEnglish,hehaspublishedthreebooks.He

liveswithhisfamilyinOrange,California.

A

VAILABLEFROM

V

INTAGE

B

OOKS

GOD

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byJackMiles

Whatsortof“person”isGod?Whatishis“lifestory”?Isitpossibletoapproachhimnotasan

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THEGNOSTICGOSPELS

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In1945anEgyptianpeasantunearthedwhatprovedtobetheGnosticGospels,thesacred

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THESECRETTEACHINGSOFJESUS

TranslatedbyMarvinW.Meyer

Inthisvolume,MarvinW.MeyerhasproducedanewEnglishtranslationforgeneralreaders

offourofthemostimportantandrevealingoftheancientGnosticmanuscripts—theSecret

BookofJames,theGospelofThomas,theBookofThomas,andtheSecretBookofJohn.

Religion/0–394–74433–0

UNDERSTANDINGTHEDEADSEASCROLLS

EditedbyHershelShanks

Eversincetheirdiscoveryin1947,theDeadSeaScrollshavearousedexcitement,jealousy,

and not a little dread among some who feared their contents might undermine the

foundations of Judaism and Christianity. This path-clearing volume is an illuminating

assessmentofwhatthesetextsrevealaboutalosterainthehistoryoftwoworldreligions.

History/Religion/0–679–74445–2

Availableatyourlocalbookstore,orcalltoll-freetoorder:

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AVAILABLEFROM

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INTAGE

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OOKS

THEANALECTSOFCONFUCIUS

TranslatedandAnnotatedbyArthurWaley

The Analects of Confucius is one of the central books of Chinese literature and Chinese

thought.Afullintroductiongivesthesocialandpoliticalbackgroundofthiswork,analysesof

key terms in Chinese thought that are prominent throughout, and a careful study of the

historyofthebooksanditsinterpretations.

Theology/Philosophy/0–679–72296–3

GODINALLWORLDS

AnAnthologyofContemporarySpiritualWriting

EditedandwithanIntroductionbyLucindaVardey

SpanningfiftyyearsandrepresentingtraditionsfromChristianity,Judaism,andHinduismto

GaiaworshipandNewAgebeliefs,thisbountifulanthologyformsaninclusivemapofthe

spiritualjourneyanditslandmarks.Itstwenty-twochaptersdescribeprayerandmeditation,

thepowerofmyth,theMothergoddessandtheCosmicChrist,andthestrugglewithevil.

Religion/Spirituality/0–679–74543–2

TAOTECHING

byLaoTsu

TheesotericbutinfinitelypracticalTaoTeChing,writteninChinamostprobablyinthesixth

century B.C., has been translated into English more often than any other book except the

Bible.Gia-fuFengandJaneEnglish’ssuperbtranslationofferstheessenceofeachwordand

makesLaoTsu’steachingimmediateandalive.

Philosophy/Religion/0–679–72434–6

Availableatyourlocalbookstore,orcalltoll-freetoorder:

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